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World Cup 2026: 91-year-old Argentina legend Enrique Macaya

Thursday, July 16, 2026María Rosa Fernández
World Cup 2026: 91-year-old Argentina legend Enrique Macaya

91-year-old Enrique Macaya Márquez's feat: Covering 18 consecutive tournaments from the first World Cup in 1958 for 24 years to the present—a spectacle he has shown from Pele to Messi.

World Cup 2026: 91-year-old Argentina legend Enrique Macaya

According to Bbc.

Background

Enrique Macaya Marquez, a famous journalist who covered 18 consecutive World Cups since 1958. He has witnessed key events in the history of the Argentina team firsthand, so his views and experience could be a vital guide for the Argentina team in World Cup 2026.

Why this matters

Enrique Macaya Márquez's experience covering 18 consecutive World Cups at the age of 91 holds a unique place in Argentina's football history. His experience, from Pele to Messi, helps to understand the evolution of this game. As the World Cup 2026 approaches, this experience could be an inspiration for the Argentina team.

Key Takeaways

  • World Cup 2026: 91-year-old Argentina legend Enrique Macaya.
  • 91-year-old Enrique Macaya Márquez's feat: Covering 18 consecutive tournaments from the first World Cup in 1958 for 24 years to date—a spectacle he has shown from Pele to Messi.
  • Enrique Macaya Marquez remains central to Argentina's plans.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni poses for a photo with Enrique Macaya Márquez after his news conference; That scene is a recognition signal for this new generation of journalists. 91-year-old Enrique Macaya Márquez (commonly known as 'Macaya') has had an extraordinary career spanning three classes: he has covered 18 consecutive World Cups since 1958. His first World Cup was in Sweden in 1958 — a tournament in which the 17-year-old Pele was a shining light, but it was Makaya who caught the spotlight.

Makaya was 24 years old at the time. One of his first appointments was to cover the Brazil-Austria match alongside Pele, but his first vivid memory was Argentina's 6-1 thrashing in Sweden—what he later described as 'the Swedish failure'. He says: "I remember that it was an explosive deception for Argentina. We didn't know anything intelligent about Czechoslovakia — no information, no data, they surprised us." (This emphasis matches the words given in the original article.)

For nearly seven decades, Makaya has witnessed the evolution of football firsthand: watching the making of players like Pele, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi. The journey from television to digital media, the instant availability of statistics, the increasing organization of World Cups—all are evident in his career. Yet one thought has not changed: his belief in not making ad hoc decisions. Even when Skaloni was surprisingly appointed as the team's coach in 2018, he didn't have high hopes for Skaloni at first, "I didn't know him," he added; Macaya then turned his attention to bringing Argentina to the Copa America, Finalissima and a world victory in the SC.

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Interestingly, when asked about his personal preference, Makaya made it clear—"If I were to pick right away, Messi would be natural." But 'Who is the best player of all time?' He laughs silently when asked: Times, opponents, teammates' needs cannot be compared. He thinks it is not futile to compare Pele 1970 Brazil, Maradona 1986 Argentina, or Messi: "Each player is unique with his time, his circumstances, his life." Based on the same philosophy, he looks at the wins, losses and games of his opponents in group terms.

Apart from this, Makaya expressed the feeling that he would go to rest one day as a consolation. Even after he has been between appeals in the way he imagined for decades, he said: "I will retire at one point" — laughing, "I am retiring now... I will move and leave them to continue at another time."

The rest is clear: whether there are many changes in the profession, we have not changed. Thoughtfulness, thorough analysis without immediate judgment—these are the styles that amaze him. Macaya will see the journey as one more lesson for Argentina when they are on the semi-final stage of the World Cup 2026. Even if his biography is complete, his rules remain a liability for football journalism.

What happens next

Argentina team is likely to listen to veterans like Macaya to improve their performance in World Cup 2026. Under the leadership of Lionel Schalon, the team will try to repeat the past successes with a new generation of players. In this season's outlook, the experience of people like Macaya Marquez could become crucial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the score of Argentina vs Ecuador match?

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How is Argentina's position after this match?

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When is Argentina's next match?

This article does not contain information about Argentina's next match.

Who is Enrique Macaya Marquez?

Enrique Macaya Marquez is 91 years old

A veteran journalist of the age, he has covered 18 consecutive World Cups since 1958.

What did Enrique Macaya Marquez say about Lionel Scaloni?

Macaya did not have high hopes for Skaloni at first, but later recognized his achievements.

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