Linkedin Connection Propels Cape Verde Player to World Cup Stardom

WHO:

Fast Company - Roberto "Pico" Lopes, a soccer player, and Rui Aguas, head coach of Cape Verde's national team.

Inc - Cape Verde national soccer team.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Lopes received a LinkedIn message from Aguas offering him a position on the Cape Verde national team.

Fast Company - Lopes joined the Cape Verde national team in 2019.

Fast Company - Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 World Cup for the first time.

Fast Company - Cape Verde tied with Spain, ranked third in FIFA's rankings, in their first game of the tournament.

Fast Company - The 40-year-old goalie of Cape Verde saved seven shots against Spain.

WHERE:

Fast Company - Cape Verde, an archipelago nation in Africa.

Fast Company - The game against Spain took place during the 2026 World Cup.

WHEN:

Fast Company - Lopes received the initial LinkedIn message in 2019.

Fast Company - Cape Verde missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

WHY:

Fast Company - Aguas reached out to Lopes because Lopes's father was born in Cape Verde, making him eligible to represent the national team under FIFA rules.

Fast Company - Lopes initially thought the message was spam and did not respond for nine months.

HOW:

Fast Company - Aguas used LinkedIn to contact Lopes, sending a message in Portuguese and later following up in English.

Fast Company - Lopes translated the original message using Google Translate to understand the offer.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 21:54 UTC)

Roberto "Pico" Lopes, a soccer player, received a LinkedIn message from Rui Aguas, the head coach of Cape Verde's national team, offering him a position on the squad, which he initially thought was spam and took nine months to respond to. Cape Verde, an archipelago nation in Africa, has made history by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup for the first time, and in their opening match, they tied with Spain, who is ranked third in FIFA's rankings, with Lopes's 40-year-old goalie saving seven shots. Lopes, who joined the Cape Verde national team in 2019 due to his father's heritage, was contacted by Aguas in Portuguese, and he used Google Translate to understand the offer.