Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:47am on 16 Jun 2026,Tuesday Sports
Cape Verde Defender Roberto Lopes Nearly Ignored National Team Call-Up After Receiving Invitation on LinkedIn Cape Verde defender Roberto Lopes has emerged as one of the most remarkable stories of the FIFA World Cup. The 33-year-old, who was born and raised in Ireland and worked as a mortgage advisor while playing part-time football, nearly missed his chance to represent Cape Verde after mistaking the national team's LinkedIn message for a scam. Lopes, who did not speak Portuguese when contacted, eventually accepted the invitation and has since become a key player for the island nation. He recently helped Cape Verde secure a memorable clean sheet against European champions Spain at the World Cup. (PC: AP)
