Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, a 34-year-old footballer who plays for Shamrock Rovers and works as a bank manager, was welcomed home to Dublin Airport on Monday afternoon after representing Cape Verde in the World Cup. He described the experience as a 'dream come true' as he was greeted by his wife Leah, eight-month-old son Diego, mother Judie, and father Carlos, alongside supporters waving Cape Verde flags and chanting his name.
Emotional Homecoming
'It's incredible, to see my wife and baby Diego was lovely and then to see all the Rovers fans and everyone else, it's really overwhelming,' Lopes said. After hugging his son and greeting his family, he was surrounded by media and fans seeking autographs and selfies.
From LinkedIn to the World Stage
Lopes' journey to the World Cup began with a LinkedIn message in Portuguese from Cape Verde's football association, which he initially ignored. Months later, he received an English inquiry about declaring for Cape Verde and accepted. The island nation became the smallest country to reach the World Cup knockout stages.
Facing Messi and Making History
Lopes' family was flown to Miami by Aer Lingus to watch Cape Verde face Argentina, a match he called the greatest of his career. 'I never thought I’d be on the same pitch as Messi,' he said. 'To be out there competing with the best player in the world, in my opinion, it was a dream.' His mother Judie described it as 'amazing' and 'almost surreal,' adding, 'They performed so well on the largest stage in football.'
Putting Cape Verde on the Map
Lopes emphasized the broader significance: 'There’s a story outside of football here which is really important and it’s about Cape Verde as a nation. People don’t have to ask that question now, where are you from, or how do you get there or where is it on the map, people know.' His father Carlos added, 'Before this World Cup most of the people didn’t know where Cape Verde was, now everybody in the world knows Cape Verde.'
Future Plans
When asked about a potential partnership with LinkedIn, where the opportunity arose, Lopes hinted, 'I think we’ll be doing something in the future.' He also acknowledged his family's sacrifices, saying it was important for them to be in Miami for the match.
