‘He won the World Cup!’ Dubliner Pico Lopes welcomed home to local club

Dubliner Pico Lopes urged children to have a dream and “be a believer” as he was given a hero’s welcome at the club where he started playing football.The 34-year-old Cabo Verde international said life has been far from normal since he got back from the 2026 World Cup in the US, where he and the Cape Verde football team gave a plucky and inspirational performance.Dublin City Council held a civic welcome for Pico at his first club, Lourdes Celtic FC in Crumlin, to celebrate his achievements.Lopes was cheered as he arrived at Lourdes Celtic FC in Crumlin (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)PA WireSwarmed by crowds of admiring children asking for high fives, autographs and selfies, he said that Crumlin “deserves this day” and urged of children in football gear in front of him to have a dream, “be a believer and work hard”.“I didn’t just learn my football here, I learned my values, my principles and my morals and how to be a good person,” he told a crowd of children gathered on the pitch at Eamonn Ceannt Park.“And your mam is Judie,” one boy added.“And my mam is Judie as well,” he replied, laughing.He continued: “This is what football does, this is what sport does, it brings people together, it brings communities together, and what an amazing day to celebrate Lourdes Celtic and Crumlin together.“I didn’t dream of lines of people here (waiting for me) but I did dream of playing in the World Cup. I think that’s important as well, 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’ll get there.“Did I think I’d get there at 34? Maybe not, but I never stopped. I think that’s the important message to give to all kids, boys and girls playing football: be a dreamer, be a believer and work hard.”Coaches said Pico’s performance in the World Cup has piqued youngsters’ interest in their local Crumlin club.Pico Lopes’ story was something of a fairytale in this summer’s World Cup (Niall Carson/PA)PA Wire“I have seen a big interest in the academy kids and the older kids when we were doing the camps here,” coach Seamus O’Connor told the Press Association.Children chanted “Pico, Pico, Pico” as he arrived onto the pitch at Eamonn Ceannt Park on Saturday afternoon with his family, before he was swarmed by children raising their hands for a high five or jerseys for an autograph.“He won the World Cup,” one boy said, while another asked Lopes what he said to Argentina’s Lionel Messi during their epic World Cup clash in Miami in the round of 32.Read MoreBella McAnaspie, six, from Clondalkin, had Lopes as her favourite player before the World Cup began, over goal-scoring giants Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.Lopes reached the round of 32 with Cape Verde in this summer’s World Cup (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)PA WireWearing a Pico Lopes kit, with matching navy bows in her hair, she said that she is his biggest fan and likes how he plays.“He’s just a very good player,” she said.“He was very good against Messi, but Argentina won, I feel bad for Pico.”Goalie Jackson Costello, 10, from Crumlin, said he has been playing football “since I could stand” and said Pico did “great” in the World Cup.“It’s just an honour that he played for our club, and we’re growing up in the same environment as he did, you can look up to him as he played in the World Cup.“So all you need to imagine is just that you play for Lourdes now, and then imagine you could play in the World Cup.”Lennon Masterson, 10, from Tallaght, plays for Lourdes Celtic FC, said he was proud of seeing a local footballer compete in the World Cup.“I was hoping they would beat Argentina,” he said.“Me and my friends, sometimes we go to Tallaght stadium and watch Rovers playing and I’ve met him before.Lopes provided one of the most remarkable stories of the World Cup (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)PA Wire“I think he should leave Cape Verde and join Ireland.”Keilyn Ellis, 11, from James’ Street, who said he used to play for Lourdes Celtic FC, said seeing Pico play at the World Cup made him want to play football more.“I’m so proud to have him as a club member, because he came from all the way through Lourdes as one of the best players, to the World Cup,” he said.“He was able to start from a club, never gave up on his dream, and made it to the world’s biggest stage and I really thought that he was a really good player.”He added: “I thought he was very good, he played against one of the best players in the world and it was a close match.“They were unlucky because it was a last-minute winner so they couldn’t do much about it.“They done very well to go against one of the teams that won the World Cup and nearly bet them.”Cape Verde reached the round of 32 knockout stage of the World Cup, where they lost 3-2 to defending champions and eventual finalists Argentina after extra time.