World Cup star Lopes returns to Champions League action captaining Shamrock Rovers to win

By: The Associated Press Posted: 5:05 AM CDT Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2026

DUBLIN (AP) — World Cup star Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes returned to action in the Champions League on Tuesday and captained Shamrock Rovers into the second qualifying round.

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DUBLIN (AP) — World Cup star Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes returned to action in the Champions League on Tuesday and captained Shamrock Rovers into the second qualifying round.

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DUBLIN (AP) — World Cup star Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes returned to action in the Champions League on Tuesday and captained Shamrock Rovers into the second qualifying round.

Just 11 days after facing Lionel Messi and Argentina in an epic World Cup round-of-32 game, Cape Verde defender Lopes led the Dublin club to a 5-1 second-leg win over Maltese champion Floriana.

Rovers advanced 5-3 on aggregate score and will now travel to face Ararat-Armenia next week. Rovers must advance through four qualifying rounds to enter the lucrative 36-team main phase starting in September.

Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister (20) and Cape Verde's Pico Lopes (4) compete for the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

The second qualifying round will see former European Cup winner Red Star Belgrade enter the competition against Larne, the champion of Northern Ireland. Larne advanced Tuesday beating Tre Fiori of San Marino 2-1 for a 3-1 aggregate score.

Vikingur of Iceland got a 2-2 draw in Hungary against Győri ETO to advance 3-2 on aggregate and will face Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the next round.

Vikingur could have to return to Hungary for the second leg on July 28 or 29. Israeli clubs cannot host their home games in UEFA competitions for security reasons, and Hapoel Beer-Sheva chose stadiums in Hungary as a neutral venue in European qualifying matches last season.