Among the stunned crowd, 23-year-old Enrique Macaya Márquez watched in disbelief, the weight of disappointment heavy in the air. He had quit smoking three years earlier, but that day he lit up again. It was the first moment of a journey that would take him to every World Cup for nearly seven decades. Do you imagine how much story he has to tell about the greatest show on earth?

Now, at 91, Macaya Márquez is preparing for the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will mark his 18th consecutive tournament, a global record, and another chapter in a life spent chasing football history. From Argentina’s triumphs in 1978 and 1986 to Messi’s crowning glory in Qatar 2022, he has witnessed, analyzed, and chronicled the sport’s most unforgettable moments. Ironically, he also has seen all five of Brasil’s world cup wins.

His connection to football’s great moments began in Sweden in 1958. As a young radio broadcaster, he watched 17-year-old Pelé lift the World Cup while his own team faced humiliation. That mix of awe and heartbreak shaped a career that would span eras, from crackling radio waves and grainy television images to today’s multiplatform broadcasts.

Growing up in Buenos Aires, football was more than a game, it was life. As a boy delivering newspapers in the same neighborhood as Alfredo Di Stéfano, he played alongside the future legend. Even then, he was drawn to storytelling and observation, qualities that would define his career.

Over the years, Macaya Márquez became a household name. He anchored Fútbol de Primera in the 1990s, bringing football into homes across Argentina. He contributed to international broadcasts for decades, wrote books analyzing the game, and built a distinctive style that was insightful, curious, and deeply passionate.

He has seen the sport’s greatest players firsthand. When Guardian asked for his top five, he named Di Stéfano, Pelé, Cruyff, Maradona, and Messi. He watched Pelé’s first World Cup triumph, witnessed Cruyff redefine football in the 1970s, and celebrated Argentina’s victories in 1978 and 1986. He followed Diego Maradona from his first Argentina goal in a friendly against Scotland in Glasgow in 1979, and cheered as Messi finally reached the pinnacle in Qatar.

Macaya Márquez has also shared moments away from the pitch. He attended Maradona’s wedding in 1989 and recalls playful debates over discipline and dedication. “Maradona told me that, when he became a manager, he would take me as his assistant,” he said in the Guardian interview. His respect went beyond journalism, making him a trusted friend and advisor to the stars he covered.

What makes him remarkable is not just the number of World Cups he has attended, but his ability to adapt. From primitive radio equipment to live multiplatform broadcasts, he has embraced every technological change without losing what sets him apart: insight, fairness, and a deep love for the game.

As he prepares for the 2026 tournament, Macaya Márquez stands as a living link between generations. He is more than a journalist, he is a historian and the conscience of Argentine football. Wherever there is a World Cup, he will be there. A true legend of the game.