Cape Verde’s Vozinha honored with new sea slug species after World Cup heroics

Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who starred for Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup, now has a marine mollusk named after him. Scientists christened a new sea slug species Adilsa vozinha, a tribute to the shot-stopper who denied shots from Messi in the team’s opening match against Spain.

Researchers from the University of Oviedo in Spain and the Technical University of the Atlantic in Cape Verde documented the animal in a study published in Historias de la Bioadversidad 3. The 4-millimeter-long red mollusk belongs to the Adilsa genus, previously known only from Caribbean records.

How Vozinha’s legacy sparked the discovery

Cape Verde’s run at the 2026 World Cup turned heads worldwide, with the team led by Bubista defying expectations. Vozinha, wearing the number 1 jersey at age 40, became a symbol of Cape Verdean grit by making key saves and shutting down attacks from traditional powerhouses. His performance in the opener — where he stopped shots from Messi and others — went viral and even caught the attention of scientists.

Rui Freitas of the Technical University of the Atlantic said the tribute came from admiration for Cape Verde’s historic football moment. “Vozinha’s journey went beyond the pitch,” Freitas said. The study notes the mollusk was collected during Caribbean expeditions, but only now identified as a new species.

Adilsa vozinha: traits of the new species

Adilsa vozinha measures about 4 millimeters and sports a bright red color typical of shell-less sea slugs. Until now, the Adilsa genus had only one Caribbean record, from a 2001 expedition in Cuba and another in 2012 in Guadalupe. The collected specimens were analyzed in a lab, revealing an unknown species.

Jesús Ángel Ortea Rato, emeritus professor at the University of Oviedo, said discoveries like this highlight how much remains to be found in the oceans. “Species like this show how much ocean biodiversity still awaits discovery,” he said. The study’s publication in the specialized journal sealed the tribute to the Cape Verdean goalkeeper.

What’s next for Cape Verde and Vozinha

With elimination in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup — finishing with 1 win and 2 losses — Cape Verde ended its campaign on a high note. Vozinha, even at 40, is already a national legend. Now he shares the spotlight with a scientific honor spanning continents.

The Cape Verde national team is set to focus on the next African qualifiers, while scientists continue analyzing new marine species inspired by sports figures. The discovery of Adilsa vozinha proves Vozinha’s legacy extends beyond football — and into the pages of science.