Roberto Lopes' journey to the World Cup is extraordinary. The Dublin-born defender, nicknamed 'Pico', worked as a mortgage adviser before Cape Verde coach Rui Aguas discovered him and made contact via LinkedIn after learning Lopes' father Carlos was from Cape Verde. 'I thought it was spam and took no notice of it,' Lopes recounts, explaining how Aguas messaged again months later.
After clarifying the proposal through Google Translate, Lopes immediately committed to Cape Verde. He left his desk job and signed with Shamrock Rovers in 2017 on a full-time deal, making his international debut in 2019. The defender became a regular starter for the Blue Sharks and recently helped Shamrock Rovers win the 2025 FAI Cup.
Now married with a baby, Lopes is expected to start when Cape Verde face 2010 World Cup champions Spain on Monday (17:00 BST kick-off) in Group H in Atlanta. It marks Cape Verde's first World Cup appearance, and Lopes' story exemplifies an unlikely path to football's global stage.