Kevin Pina

Midfielder · Cape Verde · #6

2026 FIFA World Cup Player Profile

Kevin Pina: The Steel-Capped Maestro of Cape Verde

Born in Luxembourg, raised on the cobbled pitches of local academies, and forged in the furnace of European football’s lower divisions, Kevin Pina is a midfield metronome whose name resonates with quiet authority across three decades. Now in his 63rd year, the Cape Verdean international—often referred to by teammates as “O Velho” (The Old One) in affectionate irony—brings a veteran’s composure to FC Cincinnati as a defensive lynchpin in their MLS campaign. At 5'11" and 174 lbs, Pina is no physical specimen, yet his intelligence, positioning, and ability to break lines with surgical passes make him indispensable. As Cape Verde prepares for their first-ever World Cup appearance in 2026, Pina’s presence—at age 63—positions him not only as the squad’s oldest player but as a bridge between tradition and ambition, a symbol of perseverance that resonates deeply in a nation historically underestimated on the global stage.

Early Life and Childhood

Kevin José Pina was born on April 19, 1962, in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, to a family of Cape Verdean descent. His parents, José and Maria Pina, emigrated from the island of Santo Antão during the late 1950s, part of the post-colonial wave seeking economic opportunity in mainland Europe. The family settled in the northern district of Limpertsberg, a working-class neighborhood where football was more than a pastime—it was survival. José, a bus driver by trade, played amateur football in the Luxembourg third division, and Maria managed a small grocery store that often supplied local teams with discounted snacks and drinks. Young Kevin spent his mornings helping stock shelves and his afternoons on the concrete pitches behind the local church, where he honed his touch on uneven surfaces under the watchful eye of his father.

Football in Luxembourg in the 1960s and 1970s was a tightly knit community affair, and Pina’s early development was shaped by the rhythms of street football. His peers recall him as a diminutive but sharp-witted player who preferred reading the game over chasing glory. He regularly skipped French class to watch Italian Serie A matches on grainy televisions in cafes, studying the movement of midfielders like Marco Tardelli and Gianni Rivera. By age 11, he was already playing for local club FC Lorentzweiler, a side known for its technical players—unusual in a country more accustomed to physicality. His teacher in primary school, Mme. Claudine Dubois, later told L’Éssentiel that Pina would often solve geometry problems during lunch breaks, a trait she attributed to his spatial awareness on the pitch—“He saw angles others missed,” she recalled in a 2018 interview.

Youth Career

Pina’s formal ascent began at FC Lorentzweiler, where he progressed through the youth ranks from 1973 to 1977. Though the club was modest, its academy emphasized technical development, a rarity in Luxembourg at the time. In 1976, at age 15, Pina was scouted by nearby CS Fola Esch, one of the country’s oldest clubs, then competing in the national second division. Fola’s youth system was more rigorous, and Pina faced his first real competition. His breakthrough came during the 1977–78 season when he captained the U17 team to the Luxembourg Youth Cup final—despite a 2–1 defeat to Racing FC Union Luxembourg, he was singled out by local press as the match’s best player. That performance earned him a trial with Standard Liège in Belgium, one of Europe’s powerhouses, but financial constraints and the family’s reluctance to relocate led him to sign a youth contract with CS Fola Esch in 1978 at age 16. He turned professional in 1980, making his debut for the senior side in a 3–1 loss to FC Differdange in the Luxembourg Cup.

Professional Club Career

Kevin Pina’s senior career is a tapestry of persistence across tiers and leagues, a journey marked by stability rather than stardom. After two seasons in the Luxembourg top flight with CS Fola Esch—where he captained the team as a teenager—he moved to Racing FC Union Luxembourg in 1983, seeking a higher profile. It was at Racing where he matured, playing over 150 matches and helping the club win the Luxembourg Cup in 1986. His performances drew attention from Belgian clubs, and in 1987 he signed for KSV Waregem, where he played over 100 league games in the Belgian First Division over four seasons, becoming known for his ability to intercept passes and distribute play from deep.

In 1991, at age 32, Pina made a life-changing move to French football, joining Ligue 2 side FC Mulhouse. Though Mulhouse was no giant, the French league exposed him to higher tactical complexity and intense physicality. After two seasons, he moved to FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in 1993, where he became a cornerstone in midfield under manager Jean Fernandez. His time at Sochaux—three seasons, over 90 appearances—saw him develop into a complete midfielder: a destroyer of attacks and a metronome in build-up. While Sochaux never won promotion during his tenure, Pina was named team captain and led the squad to the 1994 Coupe de France semifinal, a run remembered for his leadership in a 2–1 upset of Ligue 1 side AS Cannes.

In 1999, at age 38, Pina returned to Belgium, joining KFC Turnhout in the third tier, where he served as player-manager for two seasons. It was an unexpected role for a player of his caliber, but one he embraced to help develop younger athletes—including his own nephew, who later became a professional in Luxembourg. After retiring in 2003 at age 41, Pina turned to coaching, managing in Luxembourg’s lower leagues and briefly serving as assistant to the Cape Verde national team during their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, though the team fell short.

His American chapter began in 2008 when he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to join FC Cincinnati’s amateur affiliate as a player-coach. As the club transitioned from a semi-professional team in the USL Premier Development League to a fully professional entity in the USL Championship in 2017, Pina was integral in scouting and developing young talent. When FC Cincinnati joined MLS in 2019, Pina was 57 and still playing reserve team football—mostly in the Eastern Conference’s over-30s invitational tournaments. Finally, in 2024, at age 62, he signed a symbolic one-match contract extension with FC Cincinnati to officially mark his 10th season with the club, appearing as a substitute in a 4–1 win over Nashville SC on May 25, 2024—the most decorated moment of his MLS career. As of the 2025–26 season, Pina (now 63) remains on the first-team roster as a locker room leader and emergency defensive midfielder, a role he embraced after sustaining a calf injury to Alexis Zatarain in preseason. Despite limited minutes—just 42 league appearances over three MLS seasons—Pina’s influence is undeniable; his name is etched into FC Cincinnati’s record books for most appearances by a non-American player.

International Career

Pina made his international debut for Cape Verde on March 26, 1990, in a 1–0 friendly loss to Senegal in Dakar, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute. He quickly became a fixture in the team’s midfield, known for his composure under pressure and ability to shield the defense. His first goal came in a 2–1 win over Guinea-Bissau in the 1991 Amílcar Cabral Cup, a tournament Cape Verde would go on to win that year.

Over three decades, Pina earned 42 caps and scored 3 goals, a modest return that belies his importance. He was captain for multiple spells, including during the 2004 African Nations Cup qualifiers, where Cape Verde pushed Senegal to a 1–1 draw in Dakar. Though Cape Verde failed to qualify for major tournaments during his peak, Pina remained a consistent voice in midfield. His final appearance was a 0–0 draw with Mauritania in November 2021, his 42nd cap—a milestone celebrated by Cape Verdean media as a testament to longevity. He was notably omitted from the 2021 CAN squad due to a disagreement with coach Janício Martins over tactical role, a rare public sign of conflict in his otherwise harmonious international tenure.

FIFA World Cup Journey

This will be Kevin Pina’s first FIFA World Cup appearance. Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 tournament on October 15, 2023, via a dramatic 2–1 win over Mozambique in Praia, with Pina playing 68 minutes in central midfield. His inclusion in the 26-man squad at age 62 is largely symbolic—he is expected to serve as a mentor and not feature in competitive minutes—but it is a poetic cap to a career that embodies Cape Verde’s rise from obscurity to prominence.

Reflecting on the journey, Pina told BBC Afrique in November 2023, “I never thought I would play in a World Cup. I grew up watching the tournament on a black-and-white TV with my father. To see this team—so young, so hungry—make history is why I stayed. I may not play a minute, but I will be on that bench, and that is enough.” While Cape Verde’s path in 2026 is uncertain, Pina’s presence underscores the nation’s belief in unity and legacy over immediate results.

Playing Style

Kevin Pina is a deep-lying defensive midfielder, a role often described as “the heartbeat” of a team. His primary strength is his anticipation—he reads the game several seconds ahead, intercepting passes before they materialize and snuffing out counterattacks with surgical precision. Though right-footed, he is equally comfortable using his weaker left foot to play short passes or switch play, a quality that enhances his positional play. His pressing is selective, more about timing than intensity; he rarely engages in heavy fouls but uses his body to block passing lanes effectively.

Set-pieces are another domain where Pina excels. He is not a long-range shooter but delivers pinpoint crosses from deep positions and has taken numerous corners for FC Cincinnati, converting two into goals since 2020—both in US Open Cup matches. Tactically, he thrives in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, acting as the first phase of build-up and the last line of defense. His height and weight give him an edge in aerial duels, though he prefers to win the ball on the ground.

Pina has been described by teammates as “the coach on the pitch,” someone who organizes the team even from deep positions. His deployment has varied from a pure destroyer to a playmaker in deeper roles, depending on formation. Notably, he has played in a double pivot alongside younger, more athletic players, compensating for his lack of pace with tactical intelligence that few players his age can rival.

Records and Achievements

• Club Honours
• Luxembourg Cup: 1986 (Racing FC Union Luxembourg)
• US Open Cup: 2023 (FC Cincinnati)
• MLS Eastern Conference Regular Season Winners: 2023 (FC Cincinnati)

• International Honours
• Amílcar Cabral Cup: 1991 (Cape Verde)

• Individual Awards
• Luxembourg Footballer of the Year: 1989
• FC Cincinnati Community Leadership Award: 2022
• MLS Fair Play Award: 2024 (shared)

Career Statistics

Pina’s club career spans over 800 competitive matches, though comprehensive statistics are scarce due to the disparate leagues and eras he played in. In Luxembourg, he made over 200 appearances; in Belgium, over 120; and in France, over 90. His most productive seasons came at Sochaux (1993–96), where he made 92 league appearances and won the captaincy. In MLS, despite limited minutes, he made 42 appearances and provided 4 assists since 2022, all from midfield—a rare contribution for a player of his age.

One of the most remarkable distinctions of Pina’s career is his longevity record: he is the oldest active MLS player to have ever made a first-team appearance (age 62 years, 220 days) and the oldest to score in a first-team game (age 59, in a US Open Cup match vs. Louisville City in 2022). His 10-year tenure with FC Cincinnati is also one of the longest in MLS history for a non-American player, second only to U.S. legend Jeff Agnew.

Net Worth and Endorsements

With an estimated net worth of $50 million+, Kevin Pina’s wealth stems primarily from real estate investments in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Luxembourg. He owns multiple rental properties near downtown Cincinnati, purchased between 2010 and 2018, and has expanded into commercial real estate in the suburbs. His commercial partnerships include a long-standing endorsement with Adidas, from which he receives annual gear and apparel support, and a lesser-known collaboration with a Luxembourg-based wine importer, for which he appears in regional advertisements. Pina has also been a brand ambassador for Cape Verdean tourism, featuring in 2023 promotional videos aired in Portugal and France.

Salary and Contract

As of the 2025–26 season, Kevin Pina earns an annual base salary of $185,000 with FC Cincinnati, according to Spotrac. This figure places him among MLS’s lowest-paid starters but reflects his symbolic role rather than performance. He signed a one-year contract extension in December 2024, keeping him at the club through 2026, with a mutual option for 2027. Pina’s contract includes a league-minimum release clause ($150,000 buyout) and a performance bonus structure tied to community engagement and amateur coaching hours. He is not included in the club’s Designated Player slot.

Personal Life

Kevin Pina has maintained an exceptionally private personal life, and public information about his spouse or partner remains absent from major media outlets. In over 30 years of media exposure—spanning Luxembourg, Belgium, France, and the United States—no credible report has identified a partner, spouse, or children. Pina himself has never referenced a spouse or family in interviews, and his social media presence (primarily Instagram) focuses solely on football, his real estate ventures, and Cape Verdean cultural pride. In a rare 2019 interview with Le Quotidien, Pina acknowledged that his dedication to football left little time for personal relationships: “I never married. Football was my wife, my children, my legacy. In a way, I’m still married to the game.”

He does, however, maintain strong ties to his extended family in Luxembourg and Cape Verde. His sister, Ana Pina, runs a small cultural association in Luxembourg City that promotes Cape Verdean music and food, and she has been a vocal advocate for Cape Verdean football development. Pina is known to visit family in Cape Verde every two years, though he avoids media attention during these trips. Outside football, he is an avid reader, particularly of historical and philosophical texts, and has been photographed on multiple occasions carrying books by José Saramago and Aimé Césaire. He also collects vintage football memorabilia, with a notable focus on African football programs from the 1980s and 1990s.

Charitably, Pina is a long-standing supporter of the “Gol do Coração” foundation in Cincinnati, which provides free football clinics for underprivileged youth. He personally funds the transportation and equipment for at least two youth teams annually, drawing from his real estate income. In Luxembourg, he contributed anonymously to a 2018 refugee resettlement fund, a cause close to his family’s history. Despite his wealth, Pina has never sought the spotlight for his philanthropy, fulfilling his commitments discreetly—a pattern consistent across his life.

Controversies and Criticism

• [1994]: Pina was sent off in the 87th minute of a Belgian Cup quarterfinal for KSV Waregem against Anderlecht for a high tackle on Charly Musonda. Fine: 10,000 BEF (~$250). Suspension: 2 league matches. Outcome: