Pico Lopes is on the verge of leading Shamrock Rovers to their fifth League of Ireland title in six seasons and their first FAI Cup since 2019. He is preparing for UEFA Conference League matches against AEK Athens and Shakhtar Donetsk, but his focus will soon shift to the Cape Verde national team, which has qualified for the World Cup for the first time. The 33-year-old's career has been remarkable; he balanced playing for Bohemians with a banking job until 2017, when he joined Rovers and became a professional footballer, winning four league titles and making his international debut. Born in Dublin to an Irish mother and Cape Verdean father, Lopes debuted for Cape Verde in October 2019. Despite initial language barriers, he integrated well into the team, becoming a key player and forming a strong bond with coach Bubista. Cape Verde's World Cup qualification is historic, and Lopes is proud to be part of this achievement, emphasizing the unity and dedication of the team.