SOCCER PLAYERS from Cabo Verde

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Soccer Players of all time. This list of famous 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 Soccer Players.

1. Oceano Cruz (b. 1962)

With an HPI of 53.55, Oceano Cruz is the most famous Soccer Player.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages on wikipedia.

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.

2. Rolando (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 48.29, Rolando is the 2nd most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

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.

3. Gelson Martins (b. 1995)

With an HPI of 45.43, Gelson Martins is the 3rd most famous 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. A Portugal international since 2016, Martins was born in Cape Verde and represented the nation at the 2018 World Cup and the 2017 Confederations Cup.

4. Gelson Fernandes (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 45.19, Gelson Fernandes is the 4th most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Gelson da Conceição Tavares Fernandes (born 2 September 1986) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He is most well known for scoring the winner against eventual champions Spain in a group game at the 2010 World Cup.

5. Babanco (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 45.01, Babanco is the 5th most famous 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 professional footballer who plays 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.

6. Ryan Mendes (b. 1990)

With an HPI of 44.39, Ryan Mendes is the 6th most famous 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 First League club Kocaelispor 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 80 caps. He represented the nation at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, 2015, 2021 and 2023.

7. Júlio Tavares (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 43.30, Júlio Tavares is the 7th most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Júlio Tavares (born 19 November 1988) is a Cape Verdean footballer who plays as a striker for Saudi Second Division League club Al-Diriyah and the Cape Verde national team.

8. Djaniny (b. 1991)

With an HPI of 42.79, Djaniny is the 8th most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Jorge Djaniny Tavares Semedo (born 21 March 1991), known as Djaniny, is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al Fateh as a forward. After achieving 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, Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, Trabzonspor of Turkey and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Djaniny was first capped by Cape Verde in 2012, and represented the country at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2015.

9. Zé Luís (b. 1991)

With an HPI of 42.37, Zé Luís is the 9th most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 22 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 for Primeira Liga club AVS. He spent most of his career in Portugal, playing 68 Primeira Liga games and scoring 23 goals for Gil Vicente, Braga and Porto, winning a league title with the last of those teams 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 2017.

10. Vozinha (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 40.84, Vozinha is the 10th most famous Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Josimar José Évora Dias (born 3 June 1986), known as Vozinha, is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Chaves. He played for clubs in his country, Angola, Moldova, Portugal and Cyprus. A full international with over 50 caps for Cape Verde since 2012, he played at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, 2015, 2021 and 2023