Roberto Lopes hails from Crumlin, a neighbourhood in south Dublin, and like most locals, he has a story to tell.

One tale, in particular, has been retold countless times in the past four years—a moment that changed his career forever. Even after enduring a bleep test and a double training session with Shamrock Rovers, the League of Ireland club where he has played since 2017, the pride in his voice is unmistakable as he recalls it.

At 28, his footballing path took an unexpected turn when Rui Águas, the former Benfica and Porto striker turned Cape Verde national team manager, reached out to him—not through an agent, not through a club scout, but via LinkedIn.

Águas was aware of Lopes’ Cape Verdean heritage—his father, Carlos, was born on the island of São Nicolau. The message was simple: an invitation to play for the national team. But written in Portuguese, Lopes initially dismissed it as a generic connection request.

Nine months later, Águas messaged again, this time in English: “We’re looking to get players into the national team, would this be of interest?”

“I did what I should have done the first time and copied and pasted the message into Google Translate,” Lopes admits. “Straight away, I apologised, saying, ‘Please excuse my ignorance and lack of Portuguese, but I’d love to be a part of the group.’ Thankfully, he replied immediately: ‘We would love to have you.’”

Four weeks later, Lopes flew to France for his first international friendlies against Togo and Marseille. Since then, he has earned 36 caps, playing at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022, where Cape Verde reached the last 16.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for LinkedIn,” he says. “My dad got to see me play for Cape Verde at home in a World Cup qualifier. He was wearing a national team jersey, and people kept asking him where he got it from. When he said his son played for the team, he was treated like a superstar down there.”

If you haven’t explored LinkedIn, it’s essentially an online CV, a place for networking and recruitment. While it is often used in corporate settings, footballers are now leveraging the platform to connect with clubs, agents, and even potential employers in other industries.

Take Elliott Dugan, a 24-year-old striker who was released by Swindon Town’s academy in 2019. After a brief spell with Swedish fourth-tier side Ytterhogdals IK, he found himself out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic. To make ends meet, he took a temporary job with Royal Mail.

“My mate told me about LinkedIn and said it’s a really good networking app,” he recalls.

With no club and time on his hands, Dugan crafted a template message, attached his highlights reel, and started sending messages to clubs worldwide.

“I was delivering mail during the day and sending messages at night,” he says.

He estimates he has sent over 1,000 messages to various clubs, agents, and scouts. Eventually, the effort paid off. He received offers from Australia, the U.S., and across Europe, but ultimately signed with Cypriot side APEA Akrotiri after securing a two-week trial.

Since then, every move in his career—across multiple clubs—has stemmed from LinkedIn connections.

Dugan isn’t alone. More and more players are using LinkedIn as an alternative recruitment tool. One of his former teammates, Cameron Evans, secured a move to Newport County by directly messaging the club’s chairman, Huw Jenkins.

Jordan Lussey, a former Liverpool under-18 captain, also praises LinkedIn for career opportunities. “Footballers don’t use it enough,” he insists. “The perception is that it’s for businesspeople rather than athletes.”

During his time out of contract, Lussey used LinkedIn to promote his CV and highlight reel. He even secured a trial at Crawley Town in League Two through networking on the platform.

“It’s the most important social media platform for footballers, and yet it’s the one they use the least,” he adds.

While the success stories are inspiring, LinkedIn also has its risks. With a rise in scam agents and fake trials, players must be cautious.

“I’ve heard horror stories of players paying agents to secure a club and then the agent disappears,” Lussey warns.

FIFA-licensed agent John Print recalls how one of his players, Samuel Ofori, was nearly caught in a trial scam in Sweden.

“He went to the embassy, and they discovered the letter he received was fake,” Print reveals. “Desperation can make players vulnerable.”

To combat fraud, Dugan now runs an Instagram account, “The LinkedIn Footballer”, where he educates players on using the platform safely.

“There are red flags,” he explains. “If an agent asks for money upfront, that’s a major warning sign.”

One significant advantage of LinkedIn? No online abuse.

Unlike platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where players frequently receive hate messages, LinkedIn fosters a more professional and respectful environment.

Agent Jennifer Mendelewitsch highlights another benefit: direct access to key decision-makers.

“Scouts and sporting directors change clubs frequently,” she says. “LinkedIn helps you keep track of where they are.”

She also appreciates the more civil discourse on LinkedIn compared to X, where she often faces abusive messages.

“You don’t get that toxicity on LinkedIn,” she explains. “People behave more professionally because their real identity is visible.”

While many players use LinkedIn for recruitment, others are using it to showcase different interests.

Diogo Dalot of Manchester United lists himself not just as a footballer but also as an investor. Mary Earps, England’s No.1 goalkeeper, frequently posts updates about her off-field ventures.

Former Spurs and Liverpool defender Steven Caulker uses LinkedIn to promote mental health awareness, while Joe Savage, a former Hearts sporting director, has been candid about his experiences in football management.

As football becomes more digital, LinkedIn is positioning itself as a key tool for players looking to network, promote themselves, and secure new opportunities.

From Roberto Lopes’ international call-up to Elliott Dugan’s relentless job hunt, it is proving to be a valuable asset in the football industry.

Footballers who embrace the platform are not only expanding their careers but also controlling their narratives—in a way that is both professional and abuse-free.

Could LinkedIn become the most important social network in football? If current trends continue, it just might.