Adriano Custódio Mendes: the Cape Verdean pioneer who made history in Argentine soccer
Adriano Custódio Mendes, born in Cape Verde and based in Argentina, made history as the first African to play professionally for the AFA. He overcame loss and prejudice, built a life in La Plata and keeps the link with his roots alive, now celebrating the historic achievement of the Cape Verdean national team at the World Cup.
Born in Cape Verde, Adriano Custódio Mendes experienced the harshness of life at an early age. At the age of eight, he lost his parents to illness and saw his destiny change radically. After four years in Lisbon, where he waited for the necessary paperwork, he set off for Argentina - the country that would eventually become his permanent home.
In 1973, thanks to the help of his sister who lived in La Plata, Adriano arrived in the country without knowing anyone. Soccer, however, quickly opened doors for him. He grew up in the El Dique neighborhood of Ensenada, and after a brief unsuccessful attempt at Gimnasia, he ended up at Estudiantes de La Plata, where he would begin a unique career.
It was Raúl Hongaro, a neighbor who treated him like a son, who insisted that the young Cape Verdean try out for the club. It only took 20 minutes of training to convince coach Patricio Hernández to sign him. Adriano thus became the first African player to play professionally for the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Estudiantes not only signed him, but also welcomed him into their boarding house for four years - a gesture that marked him deeply.
"I have my own values, but what Estudiantes taught me has stayed with me forever," he said.
Despite facing discrimination and loneliness, Adriano built a life in Argentina. He got married, started a family and continues to live in La Plata, where he is remembered as a symbol of resistance and integration. "My life is here, but if Argentina and Cape Verde play, I'm rooting for Cape Verde. Because the homeland is childhood," he said, quoting the Uruguayan actress China Zorrilla, in a phrase that sums up his story.
Cape Verde's unprecedented qualification for the 2026 World Cup has rekindled in him a deep sense of belonging. "I never thought I'd live to see Cape Verde in a World Cup," he confessed, moved.
Today, Adriano celebrates seeing young Cape Verdeans gaining a foothold in international leagues, driven by their origins. "The country has half a million inhabitants, but there are more than a million Cape Verdeans scattered around the world," he recalled.
Although far away, his connection with the archipelago remains alive. "My family in Cape Verde have always followed my career. They know I played for Estudiantes, which won the Copa America and the World Cup," he said, proud to have taken the club's name - and Cape Verde's - across borders.
