Lopes was working at a bank while playing part-time for Shamrock Rovers when coach Rui Aguas first contacted him. Born to an Irish mother and Cape Verdean father, he was eligible to represent the country, although the initial message almost passed him by.
After gathering the necessary documents, Lopes flew out to make his debut against Togo. Seven years later, he has become a regular in a team that has moved from outsider status to World Cup participant.
The decision required a leap of faith. “It was risky because I was in a solid job,” Lopes said, admitting he initially viewed the move as a two-year step.
Cape Verde’s goalless draw with Spain offered immediate proof that their qualification was more than a ceremonial achievement. Spain arrived as one of the tournament’s heavyweight contenders, yet Cape Verde held firm to claim a result that gave their campaign real momentum.
For Lopes, the significance is personal as well as sporting. Representing his family and heritage on football’s grandest stage has given the decision to leave banking a powerful sense of validation.
The danger now is treating qualification as the destination. Cape Verde still have an opportunity to shape their group, with Uruguay next on 21 June before a meeting with Saudi Arabia on 26 June.
Those matches will test whether the team can turn an extraordinary arrival into a sustained tournament run. For Lopes, the gamble has already changed his life; Cape Verde will now want the football to match the story.