Macaya, the 91-year-old journalist and 18 World Cups
Ezequiel Macaya became a unique figure in World Cup coverage: at 91, he is the journalist who has followed more World Cups than anyone else in history. His perspective helps explain why the World Cup is also played in memory, in records and in the anecdotes that outlast each edition.
The World Cup is also explained from the press box, with notebooks, archives and memories that span generations. In that dimension appears Ezequiel Macaya, the Argentine 91-year-old who has already covered 18 World Cups and became the person who has followed the most World Cups in history.
His case is a perfect snapshot of World Cup nostalgia: that of a reporter who watched eras, styles, champions and the eternal debates over who was the best go by. And in that journey, he left a phrase that fits the endless discussion that has accompanied the tournament since its beginnings.
Macaya: "There is no single greatest player in history".
A living archive of the World Cup
Talking about 18 World Cups covered is not just talking about professional longevity. It is, above all, talking about perspective. Anyone who has been present at so many editions accumulates something that cannot be bought or improvised: context. And in a competition where every generation believes it is living through the definitive tournament, that memory is worth its weight in gold.
The figure of Macaya is a reminder that the World Cup is not exhausted by the result of the day. It is also made up of stories that are passed down, impossible comparisons and names that are etched into the popular conversation. That is why his voice carries weight when the place of the great icons is up for debate.
Records, names and the eternal debate
The World Cup has always fueled its own list of milestones and unforgettable surnames. In recent tournament material, several examples of that obsession with numbers appear:
- Brazil reached 50 matches without conceding in World Cup history.
- Kylian Mbappé is close to another record: he has eight goals and is level with Leônidas da Silva and Ronaldo Nazário in the scoring table for World Cup knockout matches.
- The 48-team World Cup keeps adding eye-catching records, beyond the numbers posted by stars like Leo Messi.
- The tournament’s history also draws from cultural phenomena, such as the name Neymessi, born from a dispute between parents over Neymar and Messi.
In that universe of records, the взгляд of a veteran like Macaya serves as a counterweight: the numbers are impressive, but the full story is always bigger than a statistic.
Nostalgia as part of the game
World Cup memory lives not only in the champions or the top scorers. It also lives in those who have told the story from the inside for decades. That is why the Argentine journalist has something of a natural tribute to continuity: a bridge between radio, print, television and the digital present.
In times of immediacy, his journey is a reminder that the World Cup is also enjoyed over the long haul. With comparisons across eras. With champions who set the standard. With historic players who sparked debate across generations. And with that certainty, as footballing as it is human, that there will always be a new name to feed the collective memory.
Macaya, with 91 years and 18 World Cups behind him, is not just a living record: he is part of the tournament’s history. And in a World Cup where everything seems to be measured in seconds, his career shows that some of the best stories are written over the course of a lifetime.
