Cape Verde have added Pico López to their ranks as they look to the World Cup’s almighty shock against Argentina and Lionel Messi, but they will also have support from Shamrock Rovers
Cape Verde’s Pico López plays club football for Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers are making an important stop on their way back to Dublin after an important league game against Sligo Rovers. To see their captain face off against the greatest soccer player of all time.
Under normal circumstances, Pico Lopez would have led Rovers at the 3,873-capacity Sligo Showgrounds to help extend their lead at the top of the Irish League Premier Division.
Instead, he will face Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team in the World Cup finals. Representing Cape Verde in front of 65,000 fans at Miami Stadium. And his teammates aren’t going to let that pass.
So once Rovers’ game in Sligo is over, the team will be looking to see where they can watch some of the greatest moments in the club’s history. This match will not be available to watch at Rovers’ Tara Stadium. It is owned by the city council and there are no facilities to display it.
Rovers have a crucial Champions League qualifying first leg against Maltese champions Floriana on Tuesday, and López had hoped to play if he was not involved in the biggest shock in World Cup history.
But Lynch maintains that given the circumstances that prevented Lopez from returning in time, he won’t be able to return. He will instead target his return match in Ireland a week later. However, if Lopez returns to the club, Lynch insists the defender will be treated similarly.
Lionel Messi will need to beat the African side if he wants a second World Cup (Image: 2026 Eurasia Sport Images)
Regardless of the fact that he is currently “probably Ireland’s most famous footballer”. “He’s going to be treated the same way within the group, and that’s what he wants. He’s a humble guy. He’s one of the good guys,” Lynch said.
“The atmosphere was great. There was so much media interest in him, everything was amplified. And if Cape Verde beat Argentina, they basically won the World Cup. He’s probably Ireland’s most famous footballer, but all the publicity isn’t going to change him.”
And what are the chances that Lopez will get the irreplaceable memento of Messi’s shirt? “Well, he’s going to hold it for the whole 90 minutes, so we might as well get it from him (Messi) when the final whistle blows,” Lynch added.
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