New Marine Species Named After Cape Verde Goalkeeper Bojinho in Honor of His World Cup Performance

In recognition of Cape Verde goalkeeper Bojinho’s outstanding performance at the FIFA World Cup, a marine biologist has named a newly discovered species of sea slug ‘Aldisa Bojinha.’ Biologist Jesus Orteá revealed in a research report that the naming was inspired by Bojinho’s historic goalkeeping during the match against Spain.

Bojinho’s popularity surged significantly after the World Cup, with his Instagram followers exceeding 17.4 million. Kathmandu, 27 June — To honor the historic performance of Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Bojinho (Josimar José Evora Dias) at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a new species of marine slug found in the Caribbean Sea has been named after him. Biologist Jesus Orteá discovered a red-colored sea slug and designated it ‘Aldisa Bojinha.’

The 75-year-old Orteá stated in his research report that the naming pays tribute to Bojinho’s extraordinary role during the World Cup. He noted that the vibrant red color of the slug also evokes the spirit of Spain’s nickname ‘La Roja’ (The Red Ones), celebrating Bojinho’s exceptional performance against them. Cape Verde became the second smallest nation to qualify for the knockout stage, drawing a goalless match against the European champions Spain in the group stage, with Bojinho’s spectacular goalkeeping drawing global football attention.

Following this, Cape Verde advanced past the group stage and pushed former champion Argentina to extra time in the Round of 32. Though they were ultimately defeated 3–2, Bojinho’s performances garnered widespread acclaim worldwide. His popularity skyrocketed after the World Cup; his Instagram followers rose from about 50,000 to 17.4 million in a matter of days — surpassing even the legendary American football player Tom Brady. Previously, Orteá had combined his passion for football with scientific research by naming a new species after Costa Rica’s former goalkeeper Keylor Navas.