Venezuelan journalist with cerebral palsy interviews Messi at World Cup

Manu Gutiérrez, a Venezuelan journalist living in Huntsville, Alabama, is covering the 2026 World Cup, a dream realized for the sports enthusiast. His journey to the tournament, where he has interviewed stars like Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham, is a testament to his passion and perseverance.

Gutiérrez, born in Punto Fijo, Venezuela, in 1996, developed a love for sports from a young age, watching games with his father. While he initially aspired to be a footballer, a diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy, a condition affecting muscle rigidity and requiring him to use a wheelchair, shifted his aspirations.

"I dreamed of being able to recover from my condition to play soccer. But when I realized it was impossible to practice it, I thought about how I could get closer to sports," he told LA NACION. This led him to journalism, though he initially faced self-doubt about his voice and diction.

Despite these insecurities, Gutiérrez began his career at 15 as a radio producer and later studied Social Communication at the Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta. He emigrated to the U.S. in 2016, completing his degree remotely. Now, with a microphone in hand, he is living his passion, covering the World Cup and adding new chapters to his career.