Sidny Lopes Cabral, the 23-year-old left-back for Cape Verde, remembers laughing when they saw the 1% chance given to his team. “They gave us a 1% chance of reaching the next round, but we showed how big 1% is,” he says. Now, Cape Verde—a nation of 500,000 people—faces world champions Argentina and Lionel Messi in the World Cup knockout stage.
Underdog Spirit and Unbeaten Run
Cape Verde held Spain to a goalless draw in their first-ever World Cup match and progressed unbeaten through the group. “When we saw 1%, we just laughed,” Lopes Cabral recalls. The defender, born in Rotterdam to Cape Verdean parents, is one of seven squad members from the Dutch city. “Growing up there was nice, family and friends everywhere,” he says. “I always wanted to play for the motherland, because I love Cape Verde so much.”
The team’s vibe is infectious: “We’re always dancing, having fun. It’s like we’re on vacation.” But there is serious work ahead. Against Spain, Lopes Cabral faced Lamine Yamal, whose entrance made the stadium roar. “When Lamine came on it was like ‘Oh shit’,” he admits. “But I said to myself: ‘Let’s go, let’s test myself.’” He was substituted soon after due to a yellow card, but Cape Verde’s resilience grew.
Facing Messi and Argentina
Now comes the ultimate test: Argentina and Lionel Messi. “Honestly, nobody is overwhelmed,” Lopes Cabral insists. “If you’re like: ‘Oh, it’s Messi,’ you’re gonna lose your mind. We’re focusing on our plan, our tactics.” He hopes to get a photo with Messi after the game, but his focus is on the team. “It’s 11 men, not this man or that man … I need to focus on myself. If I think: ‘I’m playing Messi,’ I’m going to blow my mind.”
Reflecting on Messi’s talent, Lopes Cabral says: “Nobody can do what he does. He’s the only one who can dribble past eight players and score.” Yet his personal idol is Marcelo, the former Real Madrid left-back. A promised Marcelo shirt was lost by a friend’s brother, leaving him “so mad.”
From Fifth Tier to World Stage
Lopes Cabral’s journey mirrors Cape Verde’s against-the-odds story. He started at Twente’s academy, moved to Sweden’s Helsingborg, then to Germany’s fifth-tier Rot-Weiss Erfurt, where he earned £850 a month and used bin bags as curtains. “Honestly, I was crying. I wanted to go back to the Netherlands,” he recalls. “My first apartment was empty. I had to put up bin bags as curtains.” Despite limited game time—only eight appearances that season—he never doubted himself. “Germany made me mentally so strong. That’s why I’m here, why nothing can break me.”
His perseverance paid off: two years later, he was playing in the Champions League with Benfica. “I always told my mother: ‘I will be a professional football player and you won’t have to work,’” he says. Friends called him crazy for prioritizing training over parties, but now they acknowledge his success.
Confronting Racism
Lopes Cabral has faced racism on and off the pitch. In Germany, away fans were “very, very racist.” He also experienced abuse after a shirt-swapping incident with Vinícius Júnior. “There are so many people commenting on my Instagram, messaging me, calling me black, calling me monkey. I had to turn off my phone,” he says. He condemns the racist comments directed at Dutch players who missed penalties against Morocco. “It’s so annoying that even in 2026 there’s still racism.”
He credits former manager José Mourinho for honesty and support. Mourinho sent him a message after the Spain and Uruguay games: “Bravo! Keep going, believe in yourself.”
Dreams and Team Spirit
Lopes Cabral dreams of playing in the Premier League and winning the Champions League. He supports Manchester City and admires Jérémy Doku. Within the Cape Verde squad, he describes goalkeeper Vozinha as “crazy” but amazing. “What he did against Spain was amazing,” Lopes Cabral says. “We are one family and we’re so happy.”
When asked about their chances against Argentina, he refuses to give a percentage: “We’re just gonna play, and we’re gonna do a great game, I’m confident.” And who will win the World Cup? “I hope we are. Cape Verde.”
