World Cup 2026: Shamrock Rovers fans 'immensely proud' of Cape Verde hero Roberto Lopes - BBC Sport

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Rovers fans 'immensely proud' of Cape Verde hero Lopes

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Image caption,

Roberto Lopes has been capped 44 times by Cape Verde since his debut in 2019

By Richard Petrie

BBC Sport NI journalist

Published 3 hours ago

The central part played by a League of Ireland defender in Cape Verde's stunning draw against Spain led to the result being celebrated almost as much in Dublin as by the less than half a million inhabitants of the archipelagic country off the coast of West Africa.

Shamrock Rovers centre-back Roberto 'Pico' Lopes produced a commanding display as the World Cup debutants secured a deserved 0-0 draw against Spain, one of the pre-tournament favourites, in their Group H opener in Atlanta.

After playing a starring role in one of the biggest upsets in recent World Cup history, the 33-year-old said: "To get a point and a clean sheet in our first game in a World Cup against a team like Spain was amazing.

"It's a moment that we should be proud of and enjoy. It's history for us."

The third-smallest country in terms of population to qualify for a World Cup, Cape Verde were 67th in Fifa's latest rankings and many expected them to be swept aside by their second-ranked opponents.

Spain were however unable to find a way past inspired 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who kept them at bay with numerous fine saves and narrowly edged out Lopes in the BBC player ratings poll for player of the match.

Figure caption,

World Cup debutants Cape Verde hold on for draw against Spain

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Tuesday morning, Ciaran Stafford of the Pride of Ringsend Shamrock Rovers Supporters' Club, expressed something of the delight felt by fans of Lopes' club after his heroic display against the European champions.

"It was an incredible evening, and we went to the pub to watch it and just to see Pico play. To see him play at that level against that calibre of player and to hold his own, we are immensely proud of him," said Stafford.

"He's probably been the best centre-back in the league for the best part of six or seven seasons now and in that time he has played close to 60 European games, he has played against the likes of [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, Sadio Mane, so he has had a taste of what that kind of level is like.

"Considering some of the players we've seen him play against in Europe in recent years I'm not surprised.

"His performance, some of those last-ditch challenges, that last-ditch challenge in the 88th minute just epitomised Pico and epitomised the team's performance last night."

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Image source, Getty

Image caption,

Before playing for Shamrock Rovers, Roberto Lopes spent six years with Bohemians

Spain came into the game as heavy favourites but the spirit and ability shown by Lopes, who has played for Shamrock Rovers since 2017, and his team-mates proved enough to pull off a major shock.

"I think everyone expected it to be a walk in the park for the Spanish, understandably," added Stafford.

"I think what Pico showed was his strength, his organisational skills have always been excellent, and for a team to keep their shape and discipline for as long as they did yesterday is a credit to them and I reckon he was a massive part of that.

"He also showed his fitness level, not only physically but mentally, to be tuned in. Yes, they rode their luck at times, but when you're playing the reigning European champions, you're going to have to ride your luck at times."

Born in Dublin to a Cape Verdean father and an Irish mother, the ex-Bohemians player is the first League of Ireland player to participate in a World Cup finals match.

He made his debut for the country in 2019, having previously made one appearance for the Republic of Ireland Under-19s in 2011.

After his move to Shamrock Rovers and with the club competing in the Champions League and Europa League, Lopes received a message on his LinkedIn profile from the then-Cape Verde manager Rui Aguas that set the ball rolling.

"Everyone knows his story, it's probably the most talked about story in history at this stage with the whole Linkedin thing. I would say he is probably sick of telling people the story," said Stafford.

"He's a fantastic ambassador for the league, he's the chairperson for the Footballers' Association here, so he does great stuff off the pitch as well as on the pitch."

Cape Verde's remaining two Group H fixtures will see them take on Uruguay on Sunday 21 June (23:00 BST) and Saudi Arabia on Saturday 27 June (01:00).

"The feeling here is that yesterday's result should spur them on even more and they should only build on that.

"It might be difficult to replicate that kind of work-rate in those games, and that discipline, but if they can do it against a team that good I don't see why they can't do it in their remaining two games."

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Rovers fans 'immensely proud' of Cape Verde hero Lopes

World Cup 2026: Shamrock Rovers fans 'immensely proud' of Cape Verde hero Roberto Lopes - BBC Sport

Rovers fans 'immensely proud' of Cape Verde hero Lopes

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