Article by Mihai Şovei – published on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 10:07 / Updated Tuesday, October 14, 2025 10:34
Roberto “Pico” Lopes (33 years old) is part of the Green Cape, national team that has produced one of the biggest surprises in recent years: it has qualified at the 2026 World Championship. The defender born in Ireland has come to represent the African national following a message received on LinkedIn.
The player will represent the national islands of the green head at the World Championship in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Roberto “Pico” Lopes has reached the national team due to a message of Le LinkedIn
The national of the Cape Verde Islands produced one of the biggest surprises of this qualifying campaign, managing to get the presence at a world champion for the first time. One of the basic players of this team is the Roberto Lopes defender, a player born in Ireland in the Irish mother and father of the Cape Verde Islands. The footballer had lost hope that he would represent the national team of Ireland.
He came to represent the national team from Africa following a message he received on the LinkedIn social network, even from the team coach. The player spoke for the publication “CNN Sport” as he initially ignored the message received.
It happened through LinkedIn, the manager at that time sent me a message to Portuguese, which I did not understand. I just thought it was a welcome message … so I ignored it.
– Roberto Lopes, player at the National Cap
Fortunately for Lopes, Rui Aguas, the head coach of the green head islands at the time, he sent a message again to Shamrock Rovers' defender nine months later, this time in English, asking if he had considered his offer.
Roberto Lopes / Getty Images
Integralist in qualifying matches
The 33-year-old defender was one of the basic pieces that coach Pedro Leitao Brito used in qualifications. He was integralist even in the last match of the Green Cap, 3-0 victory with Eswatini, a result that ensured the presence at the World Cup in North America.
