BRIAN LARA is undoubtedly the most famous man in Trinidad. On Wednesday night, Wrexham's Dennis Lawrence moved into second place.
A pin-point header from the Dragons' giant defender was enough to beat Bahrain 2-1 on aggregate in the second leg of a nerve-racking World Cup play-off match held in the Arabia state.
And it sent the tiny nation of Trinidad & Tobago, with a population of just 1.5m, to the World Cup finals for the first time in their history.
A national holiday was called in the country yesterday and Prime Minister Patrick Manning ordered the whole team back from Bahrain to join the party.
But as that prestigious request was heard the man who started it all, 31-year-old Lawrence, was sitting in his hotel room - unable to take it all in..
"I talked to him last night and he was just in a daze," said agent Mike Berry, the man who brought Lawrence to North Wales and who joined him in Bahrain as the Soca Warriors claimed their famous victory.
"It hasn't sunk in yet for him, but Dennis is now a national hero in Trinidad. The guy is so modest.
"He's got to realise that he's taken Trinidad to the World Cup. He's a hero and his life will never be the same again."
Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence (left) in action for his native Trinidad as they beat Mexico to advance to the World Cup play-offs
Berry spotted Lawrence seven years ago when the Fifa-registered representative was scouting talent on the Caribbean island. Then a soldier playing for the country's army side Defence Force, Lawrence was living in Morvant - a ghetto district of Trinidad's capital, Port of Spain.
On Wednesday night, crowds were chanting: "Lawrence from Morvant," as people of all ages created a carnival-like atmosphere in the city.
But while he is "Lawrence of Morvant", the 6ft 7in defender is also "Lawrence of Wrexham".
And despite the adulation of a country, quiet man Lawrence has admitted that his next challenge would be getting himself prepared for tomorrow's visit of Peterborough - even though he is unlikely to play..
"I have to be professional, my day job is with Wrexham," he said after the momentous win.
"I've had texts off a lot of the boys to congratulate me, but I'm already starting to prepare my mind for Peterborough."
Wrexham midfielder Jim Whitley was one of those on hand to offer congratulations and while wildly jealous of the defender's achievements, he believes it couldn't have happened to a better person.
"Dennis handles all the fines here and in that match you could see why," he said. "At the end, Bahrain had just had a goal disallowed and things were beginning to get out of hand.
"But there was Big Den, organising people, sorting things out and making sure everyone was all right. That's him all over and every player here is absolutely made up for him.
"To score as well was fantastic. The commentator said his last goal was against Bristol Rovers a month ago and now he's scoring to put his country into the World Cup. That's an amazing contrast."
Whitley added: "We just hope that they go and get a team like Brazil now, because he deserves it. We're all trying to get tickets."
It's been a long road for Lawrence, nicknamed "Tallman", after he decided to leave his family and attempt to forge a career abroad in 2000.
After been given trials at both Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers - where he was offered a contract - Lawrence plumped for Brian Flynn's Wrexham in 2001.
There he teamed up with long-time friend and fellow countryman Carlos Edwards as well as compatriot Hector Sam, who had joined the Racecourse club a season earlier. Lawrence became the third "Flynnidadian."
Standing at 6ft 7in, he was never going to be the most graceful of defenders and at the beginning of his Racecourse days he was a scapegoat for Wrexham's poor form which eventually led to the man who bought him being sacked.
And it was to get worse for Lawrence. The man who took over, current boss Denis Smith - a former centre-half from the old school - didn't rate him.
"I don't think it was any secret that I wasn't impressed," said Smith. "But the thing I learned about Dennis is that he's a man. He stands up to be counted. Yes, he was making mistakes when he first came here, but he just got on with it and, most importantly, he tried not to make the same ones again."
It's the measure of a man who stands so tall that he was able to confound his critics and become a mainstay of the Dragons defence.
"I never expected it to be easy," said Lawrence. "I heard people being negative about me at the beginning. But in the end, you had to keep positive and keep going."
Despite the fact that Smith didn't rate him, Lawrence kept plugging away. He learnt how to adapt to the new manager's 3-5-2 formation and two seasons ago he was named the fans' Player of the Year. He has gone on to make 188 appearances for the Dragons and is a firm crowd favourite.
"It's nice when the fans like you," Lawrence added. "It's good to be respected. I like having a good relationship with them and my family are very settled in Wrexham. They've been here for years and my daughter goes to St Giles school. We like it here and the club have treated me very well since I came."
While Lawrence battled with his domestic form, matters on the international scene were not much better. Brazilian coach Rene Simones froze both Lawrence and club-mate Edwards - who left the Dragons for Champion-ship side Luton during the summer - out of the international scene.
They both stayed on the periphery for over a year until Trinidadian national Bertille St Clair took over and he quickly returned the pair to the international stage.
And Lawrence continued to be a mainstay of the experienced new Dutch coach Leo Beekenhakker's side - so much so that he's is now one of the first names on the teamsheet.
"I was so proud to have discovered him," said Berry. "Not only is he a good player, but Dennis is a great man and a great credit to Wrexham.
"When he scored that goal the name Wrexham went all around the world. It was a fantastic night, but it was soured by the actions of some Bahrain fans.
"They were throwing bottles, rocks, seats and even blocks of ice at us. It was disgraceful and it stopped the Trinidad players coming over to take the applause they had deserved."
Three hundred Trinidad & Tobago fans made it to the Bahrainian capital Manama and, according to Berry right among them, with the help of two steel bands they out-sang and out-danced 35,000 home fans.
And Dennis Lawrence, the man who constantly confounds his critics, gave them a real reason to party.
Germany had better watch out - there's a carnival coming.