At 91, Macaya Márquez heads to his 18th World Cup

At 91 years old, veteran journalist Enrique Macaya Márquez is set to embark on his 18th World Cup coverage, extending a remarkable record that began in Sweden in 1958. Over his seven-decade career, Macaya Márquez has been a constant presence, witnessing and documenting the profound transformations in football's tactics, technology, and economics. His journey spans from the era of black-and-white television to the current age of hyper-connectivity. Despite health considerations that necessitate a more limited media presence, Macaya Márquez feels a strong sense of duty to continue covering the sport. He expressed, "I feel like I have an obligation to do it." He is traveling to the United States to follow the Argentine national team, known as La Albiceleste, as a commentator for DirecTV, DSports, and DSports Radio. Macaya Márquez, recognized by FIFA in 2022 as "the journalist with the most World Cup coverages," aims to fully appreciate his current assignment, stating, "I don't know how much longer it will be, but anyway, this one I have at hand I will try to take advantage of." His career began at just 23 years old when Radio Belgrano of Buenos Aires sent him to cover the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, a trip he recalls undertaking "miraculously" through multiple modes of transport including planes, trains, and ferries. He witnessed the emergence of Pelé as a global superstar at that tournament and maintains a deep connection to the sport's history, including his childhood friendship with football legend Alfredo Di Stéfano.

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I feel like I have an obligation to do it.