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Mortgage Advisor Becomes Cape Verde's World Cup Star
15 Jun
Summary
- Roberto Lopes almost missed World Cup debut due to LinkedIn message.
- He initially thought the national team's contact was spam.
- Lopes balanced playing in Ireland with mortgage advising.
Roberto Lopes, a 33-year-old defender, played a vital role in Cape Verde's stunning 0-0 draw against Spain on June 15, 2026, marking their World Cup debut. His defensive efforts, including a critical late block, secured a point against the former world champions.
Lopes' path to the World Cup was nearly derailed by a misunderstanding. He initially disregarded a LinkedIn message from the Cape Verde national federation, mistaking it for spam due to its Portuguese language. At the time, Lopes was playing for Bohemian FC in the League of Ireland and working as a mortgage advisor.
He only realized the legitimacy of the offer after receiving a follow-up message in English nine months later. This prompted him to translate the original message and confirm his interest in representing Cape Verde, a nation he was eligible for through his father. Lopes made his debut in 2019 and has been a key player since.
