ROBERTO ‘PICO’ LOPES received a hero’s welcome this evening as he was treated to a mayor’s reception by South Dublin County Council.

The mayor of South Dublin, Councillor Francis Timmons, along with Shamrock Rovers hosted a reception in Tallaght Stadium to honour Lopes following his performances at the FIFA World Cup.

The Crumlin-born centre-back, who represents Cape Verde through his father, was one of the standout performers as the island nation reached the knockout stages of the men’s World Cup for the first time in their history.

Cape Verde, a country of around 530,000 people, exceeded all expectations by progressing from a group featuring Spain and Uruguay before pushing reigning world champions Argentina all the way in a thrilling round-of-32 tie.

After shocking Spain in the opening group game by holding the eventual finalists to a 0-0 draw, Cape Verde then drew 1-1 with other World Cup finalists Argentina in the round-of 32, before losing 3-2 in extra time.

Lopes also became the first active League of Ireland player to feature at the World Cup.

South Dublin County Council said Lopes played a central role in one of the World Cup’s most inspiring stories and that he and Cape Verde “captured the imagination of football supporters worldwide”.

Lopes played every minute of Cape Verde’s World Cup journey and earned widespread praise for his displays.

The reception, held ahead of this evening’s FAI Cup tie between Shamrock Rovers and Cork City, provided an opportunity for elected members, community representatives, supporters and guests to recognise Lopes’ achievements.

Timmons said South Dublin is “filled with enormous pride” by Lopes who represented “his family, his community, Shamrock Rovers, South Dublin and the League of Ireland with distinction”.

Timmons added that Lopes’s “commitment, determination and professionalism inspired people far beyond football”.

Pico presented with gift from Mayor of South Dublin Cllr. Francis Timmons

Meanwhile, chief executive of South Dublin County Council Colm Ward, said that Lopes’s “journey from local football pitches to competing against some of the world’s greatest players at the World Cup is an extraordinary story”.

“His performances throughout the tournament showcased not only his talent but also the resilience, ambition and community spirit that are strongly associated with South Dublin,” he added.