Born in Ireland and made in Ireland, a World Cup debut awaits for Pico Lopes with Cape Verde against Spain
Let’s celebrate when the Granny Rule goes full circle today
Welcome to Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes day. Welcome to a great World Cup day for Cape Verde. For Shamrock Rovers. For Crumlin. For Dublin. Welcome to Christmas Day for League of Ireland football.
Today is the day Pico and his team-mates from the African archipelago make their World Cup debut against the reigning European champions Spain in the noon kick-off live from Atlanta, 5pm Irish time.
It will be a very special day, first and foremost, for the 33-year-old from Dublin 12. When he looks up into the Atlanta Stadium stands before the national anthems, he could catch a glimpse of his wife Leah and baby son Diego, his parents, brothers, the in-laws and maybe even his childhood friends Kenneth Glennon and Keith Buckley.
When he looks into his heart before the kick-off and takes a second to come to terms with the enormity of it all on the occasion of his 45th international appearance for his father’s homeland, Pico might just think of all those back in Dublin who helped him along this way. I reckon he will. He’s that sort of guy - as I well know.
For the past nine months, I have had the pleasure of assisting Pico Lopes with the huge media interest in his story ever since Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 World Cup last October.
In that time, I have got to know the measure of a man who is one of the finest sportspeople to ever come through the Irish football system - and a gentleman to boot who has attracted media interest from every corner of the world.
The take-up of his unique story has been incredible, people from all corners wanting to know how he first ignored a message in Portuguese from the then manager on LinkedIn and only answered a second message when it landed in his in-box in English.
Journalists from every possible form of media outlet - be they online, print, digital or broadcast - have sought his time, have asked him about the journey his dad Carlos made to Ireland as a merchant sailor, have immersed themselves in the story of the love between Carlos and Dubliner Judy, PIco’s mum, that has brought them all the way to the United States for today’s big game.
Along the way, Pico has fielded calls and answered them from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, the USA, Poland, Spain, Canada, Japan, France, Portugal, Egypt, Scotland and England - I’ve probably missed a few as well!
He has spoken live on television, on radio, on podcasts. He has helped a young Irish student studying media at college in England with his thesis. He has worked with Elverys and Nike for their World Cup promotions.
Pico Lopes has done all that and more and always with a smile on his face. He has immersed himself in this World Cup experience because he knows how hard he has worked to get here through the good times and the bad.
And he knows well that he is flying the flag for Ireland as well as for Cape Verde against Spain this tea-time.
Proud of his Irish upbringing - and a one-cap Under 19 international with the Republic - Pico will readily acknowledge that he wouldn’t be in Atlanta today without his coaches at Lourdes Celtic, Home Farm, Belvedere, Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers.
Irish football should - and will - acknowledge Pico today and celebrate the fact that his World Cup debut with Cape Verde is Guaranteed Irish. He was Made in Ireland and his arrival on the biggest stage in world football today should mark a coming of age for the Granny Rule as far as this country is concerned.
For years we have enjoyed that rule. Everyone from Shay Brennan to Ray Houghton to Harvey Vale has worn the Irish jersey of their forefathers. Others, like Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, have flirted with us before returning to their own birth countries.
Pico is different. He is the player who can ensure that we realise and accept that Irish football can produce World Cup players who are born in Ireland, who play in Ireland, who are immensely proud of their Irish football heritage but are also proud that they can play for another country.
Today Pico will play World Cup football for Cape Verde but today is also a big day for Irish football. A really big day. It is the day the Granny Rule comes of age.
Best of Irish this evening Pico - you deserve it!