'Be a dreamer' - Pico Lopes honoured at civic reception

Crumlin's own Pico Lopes, a Cape Verde international, received a special civic reception in Dublin to celebrate his remarkable World Cup journey. The event honored the defender's "football fairytale" as the first active League of Ireland player to grace the sport's biggest stage.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Daryl Barron praised Lopes as a proud Dubliner who represented both Ireland and Cape Verde with distinction. The reception took place at Lopes's childhood club, Lourdes Celtic, underscoring his deep connection to the community.

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Lopes, who captained the smallest nation to reach the World Cup knockout stages, shared his pride in having the reception in his home area. He expressed hope that his story would inspire young people, emphasizing the importance of dreams, hard work, and belief.

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I started my football career here. It’s where I learnt my values and my principles, so to bring it full circle after being on the biggest stage of football, to show what community is about really, football brings people together. "Lourdes Celtic does that in abundance and it’s great to celebrate this together

"Be a dreamer, be a believer and work hard," Lopes urged aspiring young footballers. He reflected on his own journey, admitting he might not have expected to reach the World Cup at 34, but never stopped dreaming. The reception celebrated not just his athletic achievements but also the power of community and the unifying nature of football.

Now back to his day job as captain of League of Ireland leaders Shamrock Rovers, Lopes is navigating his "new normal" after the World Cup. He described the past few weeks as a rollercoaster, with well-wishers frequently approaching him during everyday activities like grocery shopping.

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I did dream of playing in the World Cup. It doesn't matter where you come from or who you play for, you have to have dreams, you have to work hard, and you have to believe you can get there. "Did I think I'd get there at 34? Maybe not, but I never stopped dreaming and I think that's the important message to give to all the kids, boys and girls starting out playing football. "Be a dreamer, be a believer and work hard