Vitória striker, Gustavo ‘scares away’ Mosquito and becomes a reinforcement in the campaign to combat dengue

Before the match between Vitória and Grêmio started, striker Gustavo Mosquito commented on the publication of the red-black team’s lineup asking not to be called by his nickname anymore. Despite fans’ confusion over the athlete’s reaction, it was all part of a campaign to combat dengue.

Gustavo Silva has carried the name “Mosquito” since the youth divisions. In the duel against Grêmio, together with the brand of repellents and insecticides SBP, they entered the field “eliminating the insect” and losing their name on the uniform. The “Playing against the Mosquito” campaign serves as an alert to players, employees and fans about the importance of protection against insects, especially vectors of serious diseases, cases of dengue, chicungunya and zika virus.

“After so many unanswered appeals, I found it impossible to remove the Mosquito. Jokes aside, I’m happy to be able to represent a brand that is so important to the health of millions of people. Everyone playing against the mosquito is, in reality, an essential attitude, whether in the football stadium or in our family homes”, highlighted Gustavo.

Gustavo without “Mosquito” was announced by Vitória at the end of August, when the team was still in the Brasileirão relegation zone. With him on the field, the club reacted and managed to secure itself among the elite of Brazilian football for 2025. The number seven had six wins, three defeats and two draws, with one goal scored and two assists.

In addition to the partnership with Gustavo, SBP will resume the “Juntos Contra o Mosquito” project at the end of this year to boost the fight against dengue in vulnerable communities across Brazil. In this edition, the action will reach the city of Itacaranha, in Bahia, with the aim of educating residents about preventive measures and ensuring access to repellents and insecticides.

“Football is one of the biggest communication platforms in Brazil, with a massive reach and an emotional connection with millions of people. By carrying out this activation with Gustavo, we were able to not only bring attention to an urgent public health problem, but also engage the public in an effective and fun way. The message of protection against dengue mosquitoes, with the popularity of the sport, gains even greater visibility”, explains Fernando Guillemin Contreras, Head of Marketing for the Pesticides Category at Reckitt Hygiene Comercial, owner of the SBP brand.