Boca Juniors player Ayrton Costa could represent Cape Verde at the World Cup

Argentine defender Ayrton Costa, currently a starter for Boca Juniors, could be called up to represent Cape Verde at the next World Cup if he becomes a national. The possibility arose after it was confirmed that the 26-year-old is of Cape Verdean descent through his paternal grandfather.

The information was provided by Javier Andrigo, president of the Society of Mutual Aid of the Union of Cape Verdeans in Argentina, in statements to the newspaper Olé. According to Andrigo, the footballer meets all the requirements to join the national team: "If he becomes a national and is called up, he could play in the World Cup," he said.

The news took Costa himself by surprise, but enthusiasm quickly grew within the Cape Verdean community living in Argentina. "It would be an enormous source of pride to see a Boca Juniors player represent Cape Verde at a World Cup," said Andrigo.

The news caught Costa himself by surprise, but the enthusiasm quickly grew within the Cape Verdean community living in Argentina.

Cape Verde is experiencing a historic moment after qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. With just over half a million inhabitants, the country is looking to strengthen its squad with players of Cape Verdean origin scattered around the world - and Ayrton Costa appears to be a real option.

Born in Quilmes, Argentina, Costa came up through the youth ranks at Independiente. He went on to play for Platense and Royal Antwerp in Belgium before joining Boca Juniors in 2025, where he has established himself as one of the defensive mainstays under Claudio Úbeda.

While the player dreams of wearing the Argentina jersey, Cape Verde's interest opens new doors for him. In addition to his Cape Verdean roots, the defender also has Paraguayan ancestry, which offers him multiple possibilities on the international scene