Sometimes football offers stories that look like movie. One of them is and Pico Lopesof her defender Samrock Rovershe is the first and last player in the story called to his national team through … Linkedin.
In 2019, the then federal technician of the Green Cape Roui Agouahe tried to contact him via LinkedIn, as the player revealed in an interview with Sky Sports.
Lopes, who did not understand Portuguese, thought the message was a farce or a spam and did not answer. When the Federation returned – this time in English – Lopes realized that the proposal was real and accepted the call.
A month later he traveled to get to know the team and made his debut in a friendly togo in October 2019. From that moment he was established in the national team, gradually learning Portuguese to better communicate with his teammates.
Five years later, that unexpected message proves decisive. The green cape was qualified for the first time in its history in a World Cup, winning the top of the 4th group in the African qualifiers.
Thus, Pico Lopes, the man who once considered a call of his national farce, is preparing to compete at the world’s biggest football appointment!
?????? Shamrock Rovers Defender Pico Lopes Could Be the First-Ever Player Recruited by His National Team Via LinkedIn to play in a world cup!
Lopes was approiled by the cape Verdean Federation but Could not understand portuguese & thought it was spam. Fortunately, They Tried… pic.twitter.com/velbcuxDet
– The Sweeper (@sweeperpod) October 13, 2025
Source: Sport Fm
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