From Mortgage Advisor to World Cup Star: The Inspiring Journey of 'Pico' Lopes

Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, a 34-year-old defender for Cape Verde, is gearing up to face Uruguay in the World Cup this Sunday, a remarkable turn of events that could have seen him continuing his career as a mortgage advisor in Ireland. His journey into professional football began when Shamrock Rovers offered him a contract, prompting him to leave his banking job in 2017 to pursue his passion for the sport.

Lopes, who previously played for Bohemians in the League of Ireland, showcased his defensive skills in a recent match against Spain, which ended in a 0-0 draw. This impressive performance has brought him into the spotlight, allowing him to appear on US television, particularly on James Corden's World Cup show on Fox, highlighting the extraordinary journey of an athlete from a small nation of just 525,000 people.

Born in Ireland to a Cape Verdean father, Carlos, and an Irish mother, Judy, Lopes initially thought the invitation from Cape Verde's former coach Rui Aguas was a prank. “I grew up in an era of prank phone calls and prank messages so I was always a bit sceptical,” he shared. However, after translating a LinkedIn message in 2018, he realized the opportunity was genuine and expressed his excitement about joining the national team.

Since debuting in 2019, Lopes has participated in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals in 2023, and now he stands on the brink of his World Cup debut. His recent match was a family affair, watched by relatives, including his 98-year-old grandfather in Cape Verde, while his immediate family cheered him on from the stands in Atlanta.

While Lopes enjoys his time at the World Cup, he remains grateful for his education in Dublin, which provided him with options beyond football. “If I didn’t go to college... I wouldn’t have known what LinkedIn was,” he reflected. His journey has been one of determination and dreams, as he recalls watching Cape Verde’s first Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and imagining himself on that stage. Thirteen years later, he's living that dream at football's grandest event.