Cape Verde star’s mum receives incredible gesture ahead of Lionel Messi clash after son makes World Cup history

The Irish version of The 1% Club has ditched Lee Mack for a former Dublin banker who is now making World Cup history with Cape Verde.

For the mother of tournament hero, Pico Lopes, the answer to the one per cent question is still as tough as ever – put into words how remarkable his journey to international fame has been?

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Cape Verde are the smallest nation to ever reach the World Cup knockouts, boasting a population of around 600,000.

What’s even more remarkable is that the African side are making their debut at football’s most prestigious competition.

The Blue Sharks, who only entered World Cup qualifying as an independent nation in 2003, were then handed one of the toughest groups on paper alongside two previous tournament winners.

However, Cape Verde went undefeated across fixtures against reigning Euro champions Spain, two-time World Cup winners Uruguay and 2034 hosts, Saudi Arabia.

Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes, an ex-Dublin bank worker who received his call-up via a LinkedIn message, is at the heart of their success.

His mum, Judy, joined the talkSPORT Breakfast show with Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent to lift the lid on his Cinderella story to World Cup stardom.

Cape Verde only had a 1% chance of winning

Asked how long she’s had her beaming smile in place, Judy replied: “As long as the tournament has kicked off.

“It’s just been a marvellous story. So yeah, absolutely thrilled the way it’s gone so far and long may it continue.

“At the start I think they had like a 1 per cent chance of getting through,” She continued. “I mean, coming up as they did against Spain and Uruguay in their group, previous World Cup holders, and no one expected them to get the results that they did.”

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Cape Verde are the darlings of the tournament

The world No.64 kickstarted their incredible tournament journey by holding World Cup favourites Spain to an improbable 0-0 stalemate.

Cape Verde then proved the result wasn’t just a flash in the pan by scoring their first World Cup goal to take the lead against Uruguay on matchday two, en route to a hard-earned Desmond-Tutu. 

Another clean sheet and vital point against Saudi Arabia in their final group game was enough to seal their runners-up spot in Group H.

Reigning World Cup holders Argentina, spearheaded by eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, now awaits in the round of 32.

“It’s just been fantastic,” Judy Lopes added to talkSPORT.

“And even though Argentina coming up next are probably the favourites and are the current champions, I think Cape Verde are the darlings of the tournament.

“Everybody’s taken them to their hearts, and It’s just wonderful to see and to be part of it. It’s fantastic!”

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In an alternate timeline, Lopes’ son Pico would have been watching the World Cup from home after her native country failed to qualify.

The one-cap Republic of Ireland Under-19 international, who has played the entirety of his club career in Dublin, was approached to play for Cape Verde in 2019.

“It is a remarkable story,” His mother explained. “He was actually recruited through LinkedIn. He was in college at the time and set up a LinkedIn profile as part of that, and the manager of the Cape Verde team at the time, Rui Aguas, contacted him, but it was in Portuguese.

“So he ignored the message, thinking it was spam, and it’s only when they contacted him again about six months later through English that he realised what it was all about.

“He profusely apologised when he got back to them and asked him if the invitation was still there, and it was, and he was able to join the squad.

“That was back in 2019, and he’s been playing with them regularly ever since.”

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Aer Lingus to the rescue

Thankfully for Shamrock Rovers hero Lopes, it will be a family affair when he faces the biggest test of his career against Argentina on Friday, live on talkSPORT.

The Crumlin-born ace was without his relatives against Saudi Arabia, after they returned home for work following the Uruguay draw.

But Judy revealed: “We had great news yesterday. I had to return to work. I’m a school secretary, and I was in there yesterday morning, and unbelievably, our national carrier Aer Lingus have offered to fly us back for the game on Friday.

“So we’re absolutely thrilled to be going back and to be there for Pico at such a special game. It’s fantastic.”

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Want Messi’s shirt?

As fans might expect, the bookies back Argentina as overwhelming favourites to send Cape Verde on the next plane home.

But Lopes and Co. have made a mockery of those predictions before, and he’s not facing Messi just for the chance of getting his shirt.

“No, not at all. I think he’s more focused as he usually is [than looking to swap jerseys with the Inter Miami superstar].

“Preparing for the game in hand, and you know pressure doesn’t really get to him. He’s a perfect personality for playing under pressure.

“He’s very calm, confident and composed, and he’s well able to block out the noise that’s surrounding this fixture.”

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