Just a few weeks after facing off against Lionel Messi at the World Cup, Pico Lopes was shown a red card as Shamrock Rovers drew 0-0 away at Drogheda United.

It was a crucial point for Drogheda in their fight down the bottom half of the table, and their fans were cheering even more when the man of the moment, Lopes, was given his marching orders.

The challenge came in the final moments of what had been a drab game at Lambe Park as the game looked to be going only one way, towards a goalless draw, from the early stages.

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Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes of Shamrock Rovers leaves the pitch after being shown a red card. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Stephen Bradley had made six changes to the team that were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by Armenian outfit Ararat-Armenia on Tuesday night, handing a debut to new signing Will Fitzgerald, who arrived from Sligo Rovers on Tuesday as well.

There were a handful of chances for both sides, but nothing that really challenged Ed McGinty or Luke Dennison in either goal. Then, towards the end of the match, there was finally a talking point as Pico Lopes lunged in on Drogheda man Shane Farrell very late and high, leaving referee Aaron O’Dowd no choice but to send Lopes off.

And it took a minute for Lopes to leave the pitch, as it looked like he had lost his cool before finally leaving the pitch for the match to finish moments later.

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Pico Lopes dejected after being sent off. Pic: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The draw still leaves Shamrock Rovers top of the League of Ireland Premier Division table, eight points ahead of second-place St Patrick’s Athletic as they return to European action on Tuesday.

They face Albanian side Egnatia in the Europa League qualifier at home at Tallaght Stadium.

From having millions of people watching you face the greatest of all time to being given your marching orders in front of 2,289 people at Lambe Park, reality hits fast, doesn’t it?