Portugal's Figo makes dreams come true

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

MARIENFELD, Germany, June 30 (Reuters) Portugal captain Luis Figo took time out from training for tomorrow's quarter-final clash against England to make one 10-year-old's dream come true.

For Raquel Rodrigues, born with a condition known as cerebral thrombosis which prevented blood from reaching part of her brain, meeting her soccer hero was something to tell all her friends about.

''He was lovely. He asked me lots of questions and I asked him about his children,'' she said, wearing a Portuguese shirt autographed by all the players and clutching a signed sticker book.

While Figo, at 33 the oldest player in the Portuguese team, can often appear grumpy on the pitch, Raquel insisted that he was all smiles when he showed her around the training camp and introduced her to his team mates.

''He invited me to go horse-riding with him in Madrid. I don't know if I can go, but I would like to,'' she said.

Doctors had feared Raquel, born in Germany to Portuguese parents, would never walk or talk, but her fascination with ball games seemed to spur her development.

''Raquel was very sick when she was young, but she always loved playing with balls. That seemed to help her and shortly after she turned three she started to walk,'' said mum Alexandra.

Raquel still requires some medical care, but she plays football and loves watching it, especially the Portuguese side whose posters are all over her bedroom wall.

''This was my dream, and Figo really was so nice -- all the players were,'' said Raquel, showing off a scarf and watch that the veteran had given her.

Mum Alexandra, close to tears, could only sing Portugal's praises.

''The players were super-nice and very down-to-earth,'' she said. ''I think this will help Raquel in her recovery -- anything that makes her feel happy is good for her.'' Reuters DH VV2023

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