World Cup 2026: Meet the Cape Verde player called-up via LinkedIn

By Ayobami Okerinde
Cape Verde produced one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday after holding former champions Spain to a goalless draw in their opening Group H match.
Despite facing 23 shots and just having just 38 per cent of ball possession, the World Cup debutants stood firm to earn a valuable point and boost their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
At the heart of that resilient defensive display was defender Roberto Lopes, whose journey to the World Cup and the Cape Verde national team began on LinkedIn.
Born in Ireland to a Cape Verdean father and an Irish mother, Lopez has spent his entire professional career in Ireland. He started his youth ...