The journey of Roberto Lopes, affectionately known as “Pico,” is the story of a man living out a childhood fantasy. From picking up a local football flyer in Dublin to facing off against the reigning world champions, Lopes has transitioned from a mortgage adviser to a history-making center-back for Cape Verde.

This article captures his journey and the thoughts he has been sharing about this great World Cup campaign while talking to his media team managed by Cathal Dervan, OTS Media.

Reflecting on his improbable path, Lopes admits, “I think I’ve always been a dreamer and that’s who I am”.

The Dual Identity and the LinkedIn Call

Lopes was born in Crumlin, Dublin, the son of a Cape Verdean father and an Irish mother. For years, he balanced a career as a mortgage adviser in a bank with semi-professional football at Bohemians FC. It was only in 2016 that he turned fully professional with Shamrock Rovers. In his ongoing 10 years stint with Rovers, the club captain Lopes has lifted 8 trophies, the latest being the double in 2025 including the Champions of League of Ireland and FAI Cup. Lopes’s trophy cabinet got one more addition in 2025, the coveted Soccer Writers ‘Personality of the Year award’.

His international career began with an unexpected message on LinkedIn from the Cape Verde coach in 2018. Initially written in Portuguese, Lopes ignored it as a potential scam before a follow-up in English clarified the opportunity. This digital interaction led to a six-year journey culminating in the 2026 World Cup, where Cape Verde became one of the smallest nations ever to compete. You can read more about this here.

Making History in the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 tournament has been a whirlwind for Lopes. After a pleasant shocking 0-0 draw against former champions Spain in their opening match, he described the feeling as “surreal… I felt like a bit lost maybe in the headlights” as he searched for his family in the stands to celebrate. Lopes credited the team’s grit, noting they “had to be resolute in our defending”and that they “got our just rewards” for their hard work.

In their next match against Uruguay, Cape Verde scored their first-ever World Cup goal. Lopes noted that “scoring our first goal… almost allowed us to relax,” even though they eventually had to fight back from a 2-1 deficit to secure a 2-2 draw. He praised the team’s resilience, saying they “showed really good character and bravery to go out and actually play”.

The group stage finale against Saudi Arabia held special meaning for Lopes, recalling the 2002 World Cup when he watched Ireland play the same nation on a television wheeled into his classroom. “Wouldn’t it be amazing now if history beat itself and that was the sort of win that took us to the next place,” he remarked before the match. After successfully qualifying for the knockout rounds, he shared an inspirational message from his Shamrock Rovers manager, Stephen Bradley : “Don’t just make history and don’t just be a part of history—start writing the book”.

A Hero in Two Nations

While playing for Cape Verde, Lopes has felt an “overwhelming” wave of support from Ireland. He observed that Irish fans are “adopting Cape Verde nearly as a second country”. Back in his childhood neighborhood of Ashton Close, neighbors have been projecting his matches onto a sheet draped over his house. “They’re making almost like a weekly thing now… I hope they’re enjoying it as much as I am,” Lopes said of the community support.

His own family—including his wife Leah and son Diego—are traveling across the U.S. in a camper van to witness his dream. For Lopes, seeing them in the stands is the true reward: “That’s what it’s all about… they sacrifice so much for me… just to have that moment of celebration with your nearest and dearest around you”.

The Pinnacle of the Sport

As Cape Verde prepares for a knockout clash with Argentina, Lopes is relishing the chance to face the world’s best, including Lionel Messi. He finds it surreal that such elite players are now analyzing his team: “You have these like top, top players… and they’re analyzing us… it’s a bit of a surreal feeling”.

The Blue Sharks have made history and will be writing a new chapter when they play against the reigning World Cup Champions, Argentina. In their debut World Cup appearance, they are unbeaten having played against Spain, the 2010 Champions, Uruguay, the first ever Champions of World Cup in 1930 and Saudi Arabia, the team which defeated Argentina in their first game in 2022 World Cup. This is truly a dream run for Cape Verde.

To top this, Lopes celebrated his birthday with his Cape Verde teammates amidst all this action packed days and I am sure this would be one of his very special birthdays.

For the boy who started with a local club flyer, the reality of the World Cup is still sinking in. “It’s the pinnacle of our sport for me,” Lopes said. “Any young footballer out there… this is what they dream about… to say that I’ve been at a World Cup and competed and we’ve managed to get out of the group… that will bring memories for the rest of my life”.

(Images : Courtesy: Insta handles of Pico Lopes and Cape Verde national team)