Cabo Verde made history at the by at . On their tournament debut, the African archipelago showed none of the nerves that might have been expected on such a momentous occasion.
Ryan Mendes has a unique place in Blue Sharks history as both their all-time leading goalscorer and top appearance-maker. Before the match, he had spoken about the significance of making it this far. After the final whistle, he could finally reflect on a journey that began with his senior international debut on 11 August 2010.
“I always dreamed of this [playing at a World Cup],” Mendes told FIFA in an exclusive interview. “It has been very difficult to get here and I have given everything for my country. I made a lot of sacrifices to play for the national team, so I think being here is well deserved. But above all, it is about seeing the Cabo Verdean people happy. As footballers, that is what we try to do every time we step on to the pitch.”
The point did not come easily though. Spain had 65 per cent possession and 27 attempts on goal, seven of which on target, but Vozinha produced an inspired display to help keep La Roja at bay. “We showed we can dig in,” Mendes said. “We had to withstand a lot of pressure, but in the end, we got our reward with a point. I think we deserved it and we’re happy. Now we’ll try to play a bit better in the upcoming matches.”
Mendes’ story first crossed paths with Eden Hazard in 2012, when the Belgian joined Chelsea and Lille used part of the fee to bring in the Cabo Verdean winger as a replacement. Two ankle injuries, however, disrupted Mendes’ first season in French football, keeping him out for more than five months.
On 2 July 2018, 3-2 in the Round of 16 at Russia 2018. That same day, Mendes left Turkish side Kayserispor to move on to pastures new in the United Arab Emirates. Now, in 2026, it is the Cabo Verdean’s turn to step into the spotlight at football’s greatest tournament.
“I believe in destiny,” he admitted. “I am here because it was meant to be this way. I just try to enjoy football – it is what I love doing most. Now I want to make the most of this opportunity, enjoy being here at the World Cup with the boys and represent my country. It means the world to me.”
For Mendes and Cape Verde, the World Cup was long just a distant spectacle watched on television. "I was always impressed by Brazil. They had 'Ronaldo Fenômeno' back in 1998 and 2002. In Cape Verde, we used to watch all the matches on TV. Since our national team wasn't participating, we’d root for Brazil, Portugal, or France... But today, we see all our compatriots supporting their country at the World Cup... What more could you ask for? Not much."
Now Mendes can savour the experience of playing at the FIFA World Cup – and help the Blue Sharks make waves on the world’s biggest stage.
Sources: FIFA Official
