​Perhaps the player who has benefited the most from this summer’s FIFA World Cup isn’t the one who will lift the trophy when the tournament ends on July 17 at MetLife Stadium. As the World Cup began, soccer fans were captivated by Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha, whose stellar performance between the posts included seven saves in a 0-0 draw with Spain. The 40-year-old’s displays were so impressive that his Instagram following surged dramatically. Before the tournament, he had about 50,000 followers; since then, that number has jumped to an astonishing 28.5 million. To put that rise in perspective, it exceeds the combined Instagram followings of Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes by more than six million, according to The Mirror US.
In a remarkable twist of fate, Vozinha has now earned the distinction of having a newly identified marine mollusk species named in his honor. The Athletic reports that Spanish scientist Jesus Ortea identified a tiny sea slug in Caribbean waters near Havana, Cuba, and the island of Guadeloupe. The new species, which measures roughly 4 millimeters and displays a striking red color, has been named Aldisa vozinhai, translating to “Vozinha’s sea slug” in English. This marks the second time Ortea, a professor of Animal Biology and Zoology at the University of Oviedo, has bestowed a species name on a soccer player. In 2019, he named a marine sea snail after Keylor Navas, then Real Madrid and Costa Rica’s goalkeeper.
The World Cup’s journey has proven transformative for the 40-year-old keeper, who steered Cape Verde to the Round of 32 before they were eliminated in extra time by the defending champions, Argentina. Earlier in the tournament, his performance against Spain moved him to tears, not just for the high stakes of the moment, but because his mother, Ana Candida Evora, was unable to witness him compete on soccer’s grand stage against the European champions due to a visa issue.
To listen to the latest episode of “All Out Soccer,” click here. Fortunately, that visa issue was later addressed. This month, U.S. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries revealed that his mother would be granted a visa to enter the United States to witness Vozinha’s World Cup performances. “Cape Verdeans in America and throughout the diaspora have been celebrating the underdog grit and resilience of the Blue Sharks, joined by soccer fans from nations across the globe,” Jeffries said. Yet that joy was tempered when Vozinha tearfully revealed that his own mother had initially been unable to attend her son’s historic performance due to visa complications, a situation he rightly felt no parent should have to endure witnessing their child’s ascent. He added that, upon learning of the issue, he spoke with Secretary of State and urged the State Department to do everything possible to ensure she could attend Cabo Verde’s next match. It is a reminder of how sport can intersect with diplomacy and personal perseverance, and how leaders can intervene to support the dream of a devoted parent in the audience.
This narrative underscores not only Vozinha’s on-field bravery but also the global reach of the World Cup, where a goalkeeper from a small island nation can captivate millions, inspire a new species, and prompt international attention to the human stories behind the game.