World Cup 2026: Roberto Lopes will relish Lionel Messi duel, says Cape Verde defender’s mother

While her son’s attentions are fully on how Cape Verde can keep their World Cup fairytale alive, Judy has returned to normality, but just for a couple of days.

Judy will briefly switch the bright lights of the World Cup for her job as a secretary in a school in Dublin before returning to America alongside her husband and Pico’s brothers for the big match.

“I know that sounds terrible now, but we never envisaged that they’d get out of the group that they were in,” she continued.

“They were up against two former world champions with Spain and Uruguay and I think they were given a 1% chance, so we had just booked and planned for the three games of the group stages and I was due back in work straight after.

“The children gave me a great send off as well the day before I left and they created a lovely poster to wish him good luck and I brought it with me. I got signed by all the team while I was there, it’ll be lovely to hang it up now in the foyer when the kids return in September.”

This World Cup has produced many shocks with many countries who were tipped to progress to the latter stages of the tournament already bowing out.

Despite Judy acknowledging that Argentina are the favourites she added that “anything is possible” as Cape Verde aim to defy the odds.

“I think where maybe Argentina are the favourites to win the tournament, I think Cape Verde are the darlings of the tournament, without a doubt.

“It would be wonderful [if they progressed], anything is possible in football. At the end of the day, it’s 90 minutes and it’s 11 against 11 and anything can happen.

“So, let’s hope the fairytale continues and they move on to the next stage.”