From LinkedIn to the World Cup: Pico Lopes and Cape Verde’s Fairytale Journey
Qwenews.com – Before the opening whistle, Cape Verde was considered a long shot. The island nation, home to roughly half a million residents, entered the 2026 tournament ranked 67th globally. Despite being only the second-smallest territory by landmass to reach soccer’s premier competition, the Blue Sharks captured hearts worldwide. “Before the ball was kicked, we were given 1% chance and to show that it was possible what 1% can do in a group where you have Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia,” center back Pico Lopes shared with CNN Sports. “It was just that sort of feeling of ‘We belong here,’ like we deserve to be here.”
A Recruitment That Changed Everything
Lopes’ path to international football began with a simple LinkedIn profile. Born in Ireland, the defender never anticipated representing his father’s homeland at age 24. Coach Rui Águas spotted the club player’s eligibility and sent a message in Portuguese. Lopes, who doesn’t speak the language, overlooked it entirely. A year later, Águas followed up in English. Six days passed without a reply. The coach typed “Forget it,” and within hours, Lopes responded. His life transformed forever.
“I was writing in Portuguese because I was certain a man called Roberto Lopes would speak Portuguese, but (that) was not the case,” Águas told CNN Sports while laughing during the tournament. “He didn’t answer the first message, but after a year I returned, and I told him the season is beginning again and asked him if he wanted to come. After six days, no answer. I wrote, ‘Forget it,’ and a few hours later, he answered finally.”
“It was a good fight because, over the years, he has become maybe the most important player, a very good person, a very good player.”
Confronting the Giants
Cape Verde’s opening fixture presented an immediate challenge against world number two Spain. The underdogs delivered a stunning performance, securing a 0-0 draw against the future champions. A 40-year-old goalkeeper named Vozinha produced a masterclass, making seven crucial saves. His social media presence exploded from approximately 50,000 followers to nearly 30 million by tournament’s end.
“Spain was a phenomenal team, and I think if they play like the way they did against us nine out of 10 times, they win the game, so you do need that bit of luck, and I thought we defended well,” Lopes explained. “As a team, you need your goalkeeper to have probably the best game of his life and Vozinha did that. Everything seemed to go our way on that game.”
The Blue Sharks advanced to the Round of 32 after finishing second in their group, where they encountered Argentina in what many labeled the tournament’s finest match. The contest remained tightly contested until Lionel Messi’s side secured victory with an 111th-minute goal.
“We sort of took the occasion out of the game and didn’t worry about who we were playing,” Lopes reflected. “We just had a goal in mind and we came close. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, but we think we had them worried for a little bit.”
Merit and Determination
Cape Verde had earned their place through qualification, topping Group D in the Confederation of African Football’s qualifiers ahead of five-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Cameroon.
“They don’t hand out golden tickets to get you to the World Cup,” Lopes stated. “You have to qualify and you’re there on merit. And I suppose, once you’re there, you don’t want to show they pass you by. You want to take part. You want to be competitive.”
Reflecting on his unexpected journey from LinkedIn to the global stage, Lopes offered this perspective:
“Never did I think setting up that profile would lead me to international football, but it just goes to show you, you leave no stone unturned, and you continue to work hard every day and believe and dream, anything is possible.”
As for Vozinha, the veteran goalkeeper remains a beloved figure within the squad. “He’s almost like that father figure,” Lopes said. “Like he was brilliant for me when I sort of joined and just made me feel welcome. … He deserves everything he’s getting now.”
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