SOCCER PLAYERS from Cabo Verde

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Cape Verdean Soccer Players of all time. This list of famous Cape Verdean Soccer Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Cape Verdean Soccer Players.

1. Rolando (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 52.90, Rolando is the most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages on wikipedia.

Rolando Jorge Pires da Fonseca (born 31 August 1985), known simply as Rolando, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He played 222 Primeira Liga games for Belenenses, Porto and Braga, winning several honours including the league, Taça de Portugal and Europa League treble with the second club in 2011. Abroad, he played on loan for Napoli and Inter Milan in Italy and Anderlecht in Belgium, and spent four years in France with Marseille. Rolando was part of the Portugal squads at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012, reaching the semi-finals in the latter tournament and earning 21 caps.

2. Gelson Fernandes (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 51.28, Gelson Fernandes is the 2nd most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Gelson da Conceição Tavares Fernandes (born 2 September 1986) is a former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Born in Cape Verde, he represented the Switzerland national team. He is most well known for scoring the winner for Switzerland against eventual champions Spain in a group game at the 2010 World Cup. Fernandes' professional football career spans 16 years across clubs in Switzerland, England, France, Italy, Portugal and Germany.

3. Oceano Cruz (b. 1962)

With an HPI of 50.73, Oceano Cruz is the 3rd most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Oceano Andrade da Cruz (born 29 July 1962), known simply as Oceano, is a Portuguese former professional footballer, currently a manager. A defensive midfielder with tremendous physical strength and leadership skills as his main assets, he was widely regarded as the best footballer ever hailing from Cape Verde, and represented most notably Sporting CP, appearing in more than 400 official matches for the club over 11 seasons (two separate spells). Having earned more than 50 caps for Portugal, Oceano played with his adopted nation at Euro 1996.

4. Gelson Martins (b. 1995)

With an HPI of 46.80, Gelson Martins is the 4th most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 37 different languages.

Gelson Dany Batalha Martins (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʒɛlsɐ̃ mɐɾˈtĩʃ]; born 11 May 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Super League Greece club Olympiacos. He began his career at Sporting CP, appearing in 140 competitive matches and winning two trophies during his three-year tenure. In 2018, he signed with Atlético Madrid and, the following year, joined Monaco, initially on loan. He moved to Olympiacos in January 2024, notably winning the 2024–25 Super League Greece. Born in Cape Verde, Martins was a Portugal international since 2016, and was part of the squads at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

5. Ryan Mendes (b. 1990)

With an HPI of 45.82, Ryan Mendes is the 5th most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça (born 8 January 1990) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for TFF 1. Lig club Iğdır and the Cape Verde national team. He spent most of his club career in France with Le Havre and Lille, and in the UAE Pro League with Sharjah and Al-Nasr. He also had brief spells in England's Championship with Nottingham Forest, and the Turkish Süper Lig with Kayserispor and Fatih Karagümrük. Mendes made his senior international debut for Cape Verde in 2010, earning over 90 caps. He represented the nation at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, 2015, 2021 and 2023.

6. Djaniny (b. 1991)

With an HPI of 41.14, Djaniny is the 6th most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Jorge Djaniny Tavares Semedo (born 21 March 1991), known as Djaniny, is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a forward. After totalling 75 games and 12 goals in the Portuguese Primeira Liga for União de Leiria, Olhanense and Nacional, he won club and individual honours with Santos Laguna in Mexico, Trabzonspor of Turkey and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. He also played in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli and Al Fateh. Djaniny was first capped by Cape Verde in 2012, and represented the country at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2015.

7. Babanco (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 40.91, Babanco is the 7th most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Elvis Manuel Monteiro Macedo (born 27 July 1985), known as Babanco, is a Cape Verdean former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He spent most of his career in Portugal, making 150 appearances in the Primeira Liga for Olhanense, Estoril and Feirense. Babanco earned a record 62 caps for Cape Verde from 2007 to 2019, representing the country at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2015.

8. Zé Luís (b. 1991)

With an HPI of 40.26, Zé Luís is the 8th most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

José Luís Mendes Andrade (born 24 January 1991), known as Zé Luís, is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a striker. He spent most of his career in Portugal, playing 108 Primeira Liga games and scoring 28 goals for Gil Vicente, Braga, Porto, Farense and AVS, winning a league title with Porto in 2020. He also competed in the Russian Premier League with Spartak Moscow and Lokomotiv Moscow, picking up a winners' medal with the former in the 2016–17 season.

9. Júlio Tavares (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 39.82, Júlio Tavares is the 9th most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Júlio Tavares (born 19 November 1988) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a striker for French Championnat National club Dijon.

10. Jovane Cabral (b. 1998)

With an HPI of 36.84, Jovane Cabral is the 10th most famous Cape Verdean Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Jovane Eduardo Borges Cabral (born 14 June 1998) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for Primeira Liga club Estrela da Amadora and the Cape Verde national team.