From Argentina to... Floriana: Pico Lopes’ strange 11 days, the Cape Verdean from Ireland
This July is turning into an unforgettable month for Roberto Carlos Lopes, better known as Pico, in an emotional rollercoaster that is not easy to capture. The 1992-born defender, born in Dublin to an Irish mother and a Cape Verdean father, had already made headlines in 2021 when he was called up for the Africa Cup of Nations. That story itself had an unusual origin: two years earlier, his first international call-up had arrived via LinkedIn. “I thought it was spam,” he later admitted with a smile.
Now, Lopes has been one of the key - and effectively indispensable - figures in Cape Verde’s extraordinary World Cup fairytale. He played every one of the 390 minutes available to his national team, including the legendary match against Argentina on 4 July. After a 1-1 draw in normal time, the Albiceleste eventually went through 3-2 after an unfortunate own goal by his defensive team-mate Borges in the 111th minute. But the 34-year-old’s season certainly did not end in Miami. Quite the opposite.
From Messi to... Gudelj
There was no break built into Lopes’ summer. Just 11 days after his World Cup stage, Pico Lopes was back on the pitch for Shamrock Rovers, the club where he has been a mainstay since 2017, with 356 appearances to his name. The setting, however, could hardly have been more different. Because the Irish Premier Division runs from March to November, the Rovers had to do without him for 12 matches, including the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying-round tie against Maltese side Floriana. His return for yesterday’s second leg was both timely and decisive. After losing the first leg 2-0, the Irish side responded with a 5-1 win, booking their place in the second round with captain Pico Lopes leading them for the full 90 minutes.
From marking Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez in the last 16 of a World Cup to facing Jah and Gudelj in the opening stage of Champions League qualifying: all in just 11 days of pure, improbable footballing drama.
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