Roberto Lopes, the defender Cabo Verde recruited with ingenuity

Roberto Lopes, the footballer who became Spain's defensive nightmare, was recruited by Cabo Verde in an unusual way thanks to LinkedIn and Google Translate.

The defensive wall that surprised Spain

Roberto Lopes, known as Pico Lopes, stood out as an impenetrable defender in the historic 0-0 draw between Cabo Verde and Spain in the 2026 World Cup. Despite the temptation, Lopes was close to breaking his rule of not exchanging jerseys with opponents after the match. However, his teammate stepped in for the exchange with Mikel Oyarzabal.

The unusual recruitment by Cabo Verde

The story of how Cabo Verde recruited Lopes is unique. Through LinkedIn and Google Translate, coach Rui Águas contacted the player, who initially thought the message was spam. After nine months of ignoring the invitation, he finally understood the proposal and accepted, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his football career.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Roberto Lopes, el defensor que Cabo Verde reclutó con ingenio