Roberto Lopes has been one of the first names on the Cabo Verde team sheet during their FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifiers. A classy and authoritative centre-back, he has been a dominant presence for the island nation, who are top of their group and in prime position to secure a spot at the global finals for the first time.
It may read ‘Roberto’ in the team line-ups, but Lopes has long been known as ‘Pico’, a nickname coined by his father.
“There’s a couple of reasons for it,” says Lopes. “Where my dad’s from on the islands, the meaning of Pico is like ‘strong man’. There’s also a big mountain over there (Pico do Monte Gordo), so there are a few different variations of the theme!”
Lopes, 33, is speaking to FIFA from his home in the Republic of Ireland. Born and bred in Dublin to an Irish mother and Cabo Verdean father, his path to international football has been far from been conventional.
The first overture from Cabo Verde came in 2018 when he received a message from the team’s coach at the time, Rui Aguas, on professional networking site LinkedIn. The note was in Portuguese, however, and with Lopes unable to understand what was being asked, he didn’t reply.
“Growing up, you’re always aware of bogey texts or bogey phone calls, and I thought it was spam,” explains Lopes, who played for Ireland at U-19 level.
One year later, Aguas followed up on his enquiry about Lopes’ interest in playing for the national team. This time, the defender used an online translation tool and swiftly replied expressing his enthusiasm about the proposal. Six years later, he stands on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup with his adopted country.
“I probably should have used Google Translate a lot earlier than I did! It was always something that I was 100 per cent willing to pursue and would love to be involved in. Thankfully, the opportunity didn’t miss me. It’s just been an amazing journey ever since.”
As well as opening new doors in his football career, Lopes says representing Cabo Verde has been a life-enriching experience.
“After getting the call-up, I took the opportunity to really delve into my heritage. Now I can’t stop talking about it! It’s great for my dad too. It makes him really proud that people know where he’s from. He loves it. It’s a big fuss over on the islands as well. My granddad’s still over there and works on his farm. There’s just a real sense of pride in the family. I’ve met with a lot of my cousins over there, and it’s really touching. Every time I do go back, I just feel more Cabo Verdean.”
Lopes admits he did have some nerves the first time he linked up with the national team. Any tension quickly dissolved, however, after he wholeheartedly threw himself into performing his initiation song.
“I thought, ‘I can’t sing it in English, it has to be a local tune’. I went on Spotify and looked up all the Cabo Verdean classics, and I just went for it. I think the song was called Dança Mami Creola. I absolutely destroyed it, but the lads loved me for it! That helped break the ice.”
Lopes’ understanding of Cabo Verdean Creole, the country’s native spoken language, has significantly improved.
“I’m able to get involved in conversations now. I can let people know where I am on the pitch, what I’m doing and what they should be doing.”
Lopes has become an indispensable figure for Cabo Verde and has captained the team under current coach Bubista. He was part of the side which reached the quarter-finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations last year – equalling their best-ever result at the tournament – and his commanding defensive displays have helped them record four clean sheets from their six World Cup 26 qualification matches. Cabo Verde lead Group D by one point from second-placed Cameroon, who they will host in a crunch clash in September.
“We’re on top of the group for a reason,” says Lopes, whose team will also take on Mauritius in next month’s qualifiers. “It’s on merit, it’s not due to luck. We’ve got very good quality in our team. We’ve got some great fast players, wingers that can carry the ball.
“We have a bit of bravery as well. We’re not afraid to hang on in games, dig in, and then when you think we should bow down, we go the other way. We stick our heads up, stick our chests out, and meet the battle head on.
“We’ve built real confidence, and that’s huge. You can’t understate that. There’s also a real freedom in our play and some of our players need that.”
That attitude, Lopes says, reflects the Cabo Verdean way of life.
“There’s a phrase the people use on the islands, ‘morabeza’, which means ‘no stress’. That sums them up perfectly. No matter what’s running around in people’s minds, what’s going on in their lives, their outlook is just like, ‘It’s another day. It’s going to happen. We’re going to get through it, and you move on.’
“That’s the type of atmosphere that’s been created in our camps. It’s so fun, that’s the only way to describe it. I can be quite serious in my football back home [in Ireland], but this has shown me a different side of it. I’ve had to relax and enjoy it. If you’re too serious all the time, and you’re wound up and worried about results or what’s to come, you forget about enjoying the moment.”
Lopes was propelled into the international arena following his exceptional performances at club level for Shamrock Rovers. He captains the Irish Premier Division team, where he has made more than 300 appearances since joining in 2016.
“It’s been incredible at Rovers,” says Lopes. “I’ve been lucky to be here for this long. It’s coming up to 10 years and they have seemed to fly by. I came here to improve myself, to become a better player and person. I’ve made some great memories along the way, met some great people, and thankfully been successful as well.”
Indeed, Lopes has won four league titles with the club and is on track to add a fifth in 2025. Rovers hold a ten-point lead at the top of the division with 10 matches to play.
Next year, Lopes’ trophy-laden career could be crowned by competing at the World Cup. The defender says qualification would represent his “biggest achievement” – and admits he has envisioned the prospect of lining up for Cabo Verde at the showpiece tournament.
“I think it would be weird if you didn’t dream about these things,” he says. “Without getting carried away, you’re dreaming about coming up against some of the best players in the world. We have a lot of hard work to do. We’re top of our group, we’re in a good position. Hopefully we can still be there after the games against Mauritius and Cameroon in September.”
Lopes believes the Cabo Verdean fans’ fervour, energy and generosity of spirit would only enhance football’s flagship event. And if they do clinch a World Cup spot, one supporter in particular is certain to be in the stands, swelled with pride as the boy he calls ‘Pico’ represents his home country on the grandest stage.
“Ah, it’d be amazing for my dad,” says Lopes. “If we were to qualify, the day after he’d probably already have his plane tickets booked! There’s a big Cabo Verdean following in America as well, so I’m sure we’ll have a huge support in the stadiums.
“It means everything to the people. When we have home games, people are out from the morning time, waiting get a glimpse of the team bus going by and cheering for us. There’s a real camaraderie. It’s not just a football game; it’s a chance to represent Cabo Verde and show off who we are. You feel like the whole country is on the pitch with you.”
