Roberto Lopes, a defender, almost missed the opportunity to play in the World Cup after initially disregarding an invitation from the Cape Verde national team. The offer arrived as a message in Portuguese on LinkedIn, a platform he didn’t immediately believe. Lopes initially ignored the message, questioning its authenticity. However, after verifying the offer, he accepted the call-up. He will now represent Cape Verde at the upcoming World Cup tournament. This marks a surprising turn of events for the player, who nearly overlooked a career-defining opportunity. The story highlights the unconventional ways national teams are now scouting players.