Cape Verde HubWho is Pico Lopes?
Pico Lopes, a defender born in Ireland, is one of the key players in Cape Verde's surprising run in World Cup 2026. He almost missed his chance to play for Cape Verde after ignoring a LinkedIn message.
The message that seemed like a scam
The message was to join the Cape Verdean team in the 2026 World Cup, but Pico Lopes thought it was spam. Today, at 34 years old, he is one of the main players on the team that is making history in the World Cup.
From Ireland to Cape Verde
Roberto Carlos Lopes was born on June 17, 1992, in Crumlin, a suburb of Dublin. The son of a Cape Verdean father and an Irish mother, he received the nickname Pico as a child.
Pico Lopes' career
Formed in the youth categories of Bohemian FC, he made his professional debut for the club before transferring to Shamrock Rovers. In nearly ten years with the club, he won five national championships and two cups.
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 06/30/2026 | World Cup 2026 | Cape Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0 |
What's next?
Cape Verde is competing in the elimination phase of the World Cup for the first time. The team will face Argentina in the round of 16.
