Newcastle United’s triumphant Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool was a moment of pure elation for the Toon Army.
Among the heroes of the day was the imposing figure of Joelinton, a player whose transformation from struggling striker to dominant midfielder has been nothing short of remarkable.
Yet, as he continues to win hearts on the pitch, his name continues to trip up fans and commentators alike.
The enduring mystery lies in the widespread belief that the Newcastle United midfielder is simply “Joe Linton.”
The evidence of this confusion is readily available, plastered across social media timelines every matchday –
"Why's Joelinton's full name on his shirt?"
— Ridders (@_Ridderss) April 27, 2023
"What do you mean?"
"Why doesnt it just say Linton?"
Quality from the missus🤣🤣😭😭 #NUFC
remembering the time i was convinced joelinton’s full name was Joe Linton and people just called him that cos it was cute xx
— katie (@shedreamspurpIe) March 12, 2025
i thought joelinton’s name was Joe Linton for like 2 years https://t.co/zUIjLUC2lH
— laura (@1aurarose) November 27, 2024
Consider the instances of even seasoned commentators like Ally McCoist and Pat Fenlon miscalling him –
Pat Fenlon referred to Joelinton as ‘Linton’ for 90+ minutes of the Palace-Newcastle game on Premier Sport, which can surely only mean he thinks the Brazilian’s full name is ‘Joe Linton’. Magic.
— Gavan Casey (@GavanCasey) November 27, 2020
This intuitive leap – identifying “Joe” as a first name and “Linton” as a surname – highlights the cultural differences in naming practices.
In Brazil, it is common for individuals to have compound first names, and their full name often includes surnames from both their mother and father.
This is precisely the case for Newcastle’s number seven.
His full name, Joelinton Cássio Apolinário de Lira, carries the legacy of his parents.
His father is Jorge Lira, and his mother is Silvania Maria Apolinário de Lira. The inclusion of “Apolinário” (from his mother) and “de Lira” (from his father) in his full name showcases this tradition.
Why this persistent confusion?
The phonetic simplicity of “Joe” and “Linton” likely plays a significant role. Separately, they are common English names, making it a natural assumption when presented together.
I got no clue what Joelinton’s first name is.. I thought his name was Joe Linton 😂😂
— Paxton Road 🎯 (@PaxtonRoadUpper) April 3, 2022
I actually thought Joelinton's name was Joe Linton.
— Stevo Timothy (@SirStevoTimothy) December 27, 2023
The flow of the name while heard live during games, “Joelinton” might not immediately register as a singular first name to an English-speaking audience.
Just like the case of a Twitter user who thought former Man City defender Aymeric Laporte was actually ‘I’m Eric Laporte’.
😭😭😭
— Aymeric Laporte (@Laporte) September 30, 2020
The ease with which “Joelinton” can be split into what sounds like a standard first and last name combination contributes significantly to the error.
Despite the frequent miscalls, Joelinton himself has largely remained unfazed, letting his performances do the talking.
He arrived at Newcastle as a striker in 2019 and, after a challenging initial period, found his true calling in central midfield under manager Eddie Howe.
This transformation has been remarkable, leading to him being named Newcastle’s Player of the Year and even earning international recognition with Brazil.
Born in Aliança, Brazil, Joelinton’s journey to the Premier League was built on dedication and perseverance. Starting at the age of 14 with Sport Recife, he worked his way up, eventually making his professional debut in 2014.
This background provides a rich narrative, yet it’s his name that often grabs the initial attention, albeit sometimes incorrectly.
