Baby Lasagna was welcomed home as a hero with thousands and thousands of people crowding into the main square in Zagreb. And the noise erupted, with fans singing Marko, Marko…, when Marko Purišić, AKA Baby Lasagna made his way onto the stage. Clearly he wasn’t expecting this kind of monumental welcome home and after greeting the crowds broke into tears!

“These scenes should travel over the world. The real winner. This is how Croatia welcomed him at home. So much appreciation for his performance. Bravo Marko!” commented one fan

“I expected maybe twenty people at the airport, and a hundred here in the centre, I don’t know what to say, thank you very much,” opened Baby Lasagna to the massed crowds. It was then that the whole atmosphere hit him and he broke down in tears, and his group collected around him for a hug. The modestly and simplicity of Croatia’s Eurovision star has been something that has shone like a bright light over Croatia ever since the competition began. The slogan of this year’s Eurovision in Malmo was “United in Music” and Baby Lasagna has certainly managed to unite the whole of the country. Mothers and grandmothers who had brought their young ones along to watch the event cried as one as Marko tried to hold back the tears. What a welcome!

Meeting his mum and fans at Zagreb Airport

Photo - Ivana Grgic/CROPIX

“What would have been like if I had won,” joked Marko later clearly shaken by the warmth and size of the welcome.

The Croatian Prime Minister, the Minister of Tourism and Culture, as well as the Mayor of Zagreb all congratulated and patted the star on the back as he made his way to the stage. And when he started to sing “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” they all joined in with his famous dance.

“He won no matter what anybody say! Look at these people and their happy faces! That's everything!” commented another fan.

Even though the whole band looked drained as soon as the music started they blasted out their second placed song with the whole of the crowd joining in. Mad scenes! And when asked what his thoughts and feelings were after Eurovision he answered in his indomitable style “It isn’t important what I think, this, this crowd, it’s important what they think.”

And added “We're just kids. None of us is over 32 years old. We did everything ourselves, took time away from our jobs. We've proven it can be done,” emotional Lasagna recounted.

Baby Lasagna isn’t a star in the making – he is a star already! The positivity, the modesty, the will and the sheer joy that he exudes, he has brought incredible pride to the whole nation. There's no going back, indeed!

BRAVO BABY LASAGNA!