WORLD CUP-BOUND Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes has expressed his excitement after Cape Verde discovered that Spain will be among their group opponents at next year’s tournament.
Cape Verde have been drawn in Group H alongside Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and tournament favourites Spain. The Dubliner, who is eligible for Cape Verde through his father, helped the side officially cinch a first-ever World Cup qualification with a 3-0 win over Eswatini in October.
“It feels like so long ago that we qualified,” Lopes told OTS Media after he also won the annual SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Personality of the Year earlier today.
“I’ve been looking forward to this day to see who we’d get. We wanted a big draw and there’s not much bigger than Spain. It’s amazing, I’m really buzzing to get stuck into it.”
Cape Verde has a population of just 560,000 which is less than County Cork, and is the second smallest country after Iceland to ever reach international football’s showpiece. Lopes has developed into a key player for African country’s team since making his debut in 2019.
“We’re there on merit,” he added. “It’ll be difficult, we’re in a tasty group but we have to believe.”
Lopes, who captained the Hoops to the Premier Division and FAI Cup double for the first time since 1987, topped the ballot of football media, ahead of his manager Stephen Bradley and Shelbourne boss Joey O’Brien. Lopes became the first player for five years, and only the third in the last 17 years, to claim the accolade.
Advertisement
Reflecting on his side’s two remaining outings in the Europa Conference League, he said.
“We’ve got two really important games with Shamrock Rovers. We’re trying to qualify for the next phase. Hopefully we can finish this year on a high and secure that.
“The Soccer Writers have put on a really nice banquet for us. I really am honoured to accept this award. It’s the result of being part of two incredible teams – Shamrock Rovers and Cape Verde so I really do feel like I’m accepting this on behalf of them. It’s an amazing award.”
It’s been a remarkable 2025 for Lopes. His World Cup exploits with Cape Verde makes him the first Irish-born player to qualify while operating in the League of Ireland.
After receiving his award, Lopes, along with family and friends, watched from Clontarf Castle the tournament draw unfold live from Washington.
Derry City’s Michael Duffy, Shelbourne’s Kerr McInroy and Shamrock Rovers Graham Burke also made this year’s shortlist.
Athlone Town striker Kelly Brady was a runaway winner of the Women’s Personality of the Year award, leading the poll from teammate Madison Gibson with Wexford’s Ellen Molloy in third.
She bagged 27 goals for the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division champions, netting a hat-trick in the Cup final as ‘the Town’ won the double for the first time in the club’s history, earning her a maiden Ireland call-up.
The Goalkeeper of the Year award went to Shamrock Rovers’ stopper Ed McGinty, with St Patrick’s Athletic Joseph Anang second and Derry City’s Brian Maher third.
The annual function, attended by over 250 guests, also saw Stephen Staunton feted with the International Achievement award.
The Dundalk native became Ireland’s first-ever centurion in 2002, holding the distinction of being the only player to feature in all of Ireland World Cup games across three tournaments.
There were emotional scenes as legendary Waterford FC kitman Michael Walsh was recognised for his 60 years of unstinting service by being honoured with the Special Merit award.
Several of his fellow Deise natives, including Ireland assistant manager John O’Shea, were present to celebrate this worthy achievement.
🖊️ Shamrock Rovers F.C. is delighted to announce that, after a short term contract from July of this year, midfielder Connor Malley has agreed to a multi-year contract to remain at the club
Additionally for Shamrock Rovers, the club have announced the signing of Connor Malley. The midfielder joined from Sligo Rovers on loan in July and has now signed a multi-year contract to remain with the Hoops.
“I’m delighted,” he said after the deal was announced. “I came in and with the success Rovers have had this season, it’s been refreshing to be a part of it. In the end, it’s turned into a no-brainer to come here, especially off the back of the season we’ve had.
“We want to keep pushing the levels, particularly in Europe and getting to that next level. I feel we’ve already made strides and pushed the boundaries in terms of the league and Europe. So I’m just delighted to be part of it all.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
3 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
'There's not much bigger than Spain' - Pico Lopes on Cape Verde's World Cup challenge
LAST UPDATE | 5 Dec 2025
WORLD CUP-BOUND Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes has expressed his excitement after Cape Verde discovered that Spain will be among their group opponents at next year’s tournament.
Cape Verde have been drawn in Group H alongside Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and tournament favourites Spain. The Dubliner, who is eligible for Cape Verde through his father, helped the side officially cinch a first-ever World Cup qualification with a 3-0 win over Eswatini in October.
“It feels like so long ago that we qualified,” Lopes told OTS Media after he also won the annual SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Personality of the Year earlier today.
“I’ve been looking forward to this day to see who we’d get. We wanted a big draw and there’s not much bigger than Spain. It’s amazing, I’m really buzzing to get stuck into it.”
Cape Verde has a population of just 560,000 which is less than County Cork, and is the second smallest country after Iceland to ever reach international football’s showpiece. Lopes has developed into a key player for African country’s team since making his debut in 2019.
“We’re there on merit,” he added. “It’ll be difficult, we’re in a tasty group but we have to believe.”
Lopes, who captained the Hoops to the Premier Division and FAI Cup double for the first time since 1987, topped the ballot of football media, ahead of his manager Stephen Bradley and Shelbourne boss Joey O’Brien. Lopes became the first player for five years, and only the third in the last 17 years, to claim the accolade.
Reflecting on his side’s two remaining outings in the Europa Conference League, he said.
“We’ve got two really important games with Shamrock Rovers. We’re trying to qualify for the next phase. Hopefully we can finish this year on a high and secure that.
“The Soccer Writers have put on a really nice banquet for us. I really am honoured to accept this award. It’s the result of being part of two incredible teams – Shamrock Rovers and Cape Verde so I really do feel like I’m accepting this on behalf of them. It’s an amazing award.”
It’s been a remarkable 2025 for Lopes. His World Cup exploits with Cape Verde makes him the first Irish-born player to qualify while operating in the League of Ireland.
After receiving his award, Lopes, along with family and friends, watched from Clontarf Castle the tournament draw unfold live from Washington.
Derry City’s Michael Duffy, Shelbourne’s Kerr McInroy and Shamrock Rovers Graham Burke also made this year’s shortlist.
Athlone Town striker Kelly Brady was a runaway winner of the Women’s Personality of the Year award, leading the poll from teammate Madison Gibson with Wexford’s Ellen Molloy in third.
She bagged 27 goals for the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division champions, netting a hat-trick in the Cup final as ‘the Town’ won the double for the first time in the club’s history, earning her a maiden Ireland call-up.
The Goalkeeper of the Year award went to Shamrock Rovers’ stopper Ed McGinty, with St Patrick’s Athletic Joseph Anang second and Derry City’s Brian Maher third.
The annual function, attended by over 250 guests, also saw Stephen Staunton feted with the International Achievement award.
The Dundalk native became Ireland’s first-ever centurion in 2002, holding the distinction of being the only player to feature in all of Ireland World Cup games across three tournaments.
There were emotional scenes as legendary Waterford FC kitman Michael Walsh was recognised for his 60 years of unstinting service by being honoured with the Special Merit award.
Several of his fellow Deise natives, including Ireland assistant manager John O’Shea, were present to celebrate this worthy achievement.
Additionally for Shamrock Rovers, the club have announced the signing of Connor Malley. The midfielder joined from Sligo Rovers on loan in July and has now signed a multi-year contract to remain with the Hoops.
“I’m delighted,” he said after the deal was announced. “I came in and with the success Rovers have had this season, it’s been refreshing to be a part of it. In the end, it’s turned into a no-brainer to come here, especially off the back of the season we’ve had.
“We want to keep pushing the levels, particularly in Europe and getting to that next level. I feel we’ve already made strides and pushed the boundaries in terms of the league and Europe. So I’m just delighted to be part of it all.”
Additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Kelly Brady michael walsh pico lopes recognition soccer writers awards