World Cup: From bank teller to national team player, Cape Verde defender received recruitment message that he initially put in spam mail

Cape Verde's surprising draw against Spain in their World Cup debut has brought global attention to the African newcomers. Among the standout stories is that of Roberto Lopes, a 33-year-old center-back whose journey from bank teller to national team player is remarkable.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Lopes faced financial challenges early in his career. The limited income from the Irish league forced him to work as a bank teller, balancing deposits and loan services during the day with football training in the evenings. His situation changed in 2016 when he signed a full-time contract with Shamrock Rovers, a prominent Irish club.

Lopes' path to the national team was unconventional. In 2018, he received an invitation to play for Cape Verde through LinkedIn. However, due to his limited Portuguese, he mistakenly classified the message as junk mail. It wasn't until nine months later, when a second invitation arrived in English, that he realized the opportunity was genuine. He debuted for Cape Verde in 2019 and has since become a vital part of their defense.

Now a key figure in Cape Verde's historic World Cup qualification, Lopes reflects on his past. He recalls the days of juggling work and training, never imagining he would reach the pinnacle of international football. Representing his father's homeland in the World Cup, he says, transcends the outcome of any single match.

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He once said that his biggest worry back then was how to balance work and training, and he never thought he would stand on the highest stage of world football.