91-year-old Argentine journalist covers his 18th World Cup

At 91 years old, Argentine journalist Enrique Macaya Marquez is covering his 18th consecutive World Cup, an unprecedented feat. Known simply as Macaya, he has become a fixture at the tournament, with even Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni stopping to pose for a photograph with him after a news conference before the group-stage match against Jordan.

A career spanning seven decades

Macaya's first World Cup was in 1958 in Sweden, where he was sent at age 24. One of his first assignments was to see Brazil, featuring a 17-year-old prodigy named Pele, take on Austria. However, his most vivid memory from that tournament is Argentina's 6-1 defeat by Czechoslovakia, known as the 'Disaster of Sweden.'

"It remains etched in my memory as a tremendous thrashing for the Argentine national football team," Macaya says. "We knew almost nothing about Czechoslovakia. We had no information, no data, and they surprised us."

Nearly seven decades later, Macaya has witnessed football transform from a relatively simple sport into a global digital spectacle. He has reported on legends including Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi. Television has become digital, statistics are instantaneous, and World Cups have expanded into massive events. Yet one thing has remained constant: Macaya refuses to rush to judgment.

Scaloni's unexpected success

That philosophy shaped his view when Lionel Scaloni was unexpectedly appointed Argentina manager in 2018. "I didn't have high hopes," says Macaya, who works as a commentator for DSPORTS Radio. "I didn't know him." Scaloni has since led Argentina to Copa America, Finalissima, and World Cup glory, turning what many saw as a gamble into a success story. Macaya says watching those victories reinforced a belief he has held throughout his career: "You can't pass judgement without a much deeper, more complete understanding of the person being judged."

Messi vs. Maradona: A nuanced view

Argentina have reached the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup and are preparing to face England on Wednesday (20:00 BST), a match broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Macaya believes Argentina can repeat their 2022 success. "Of course they can," he says. "If we're talking about what is possible, about the future, I believe Argentina is capable of winning." When asked to name his favorite Argentina player, he responds without hesitation: "Clearly, it's Messi." But the certainty fades when asked who is the greatest of all time. "That question deserves a smile," he says. "There's no way to measure players throughout history. Times have changed. Opponents have changed. Every player is unique. I can say who I personally liked, but that doesn't mean I believe that player was the best in history."

This nuanced approach extends to comparisons between Messi and Maradona. "It is very difficult to make a cold comparison," Macaya explains. "The opponents were different. The needs were different. The support from their team-mates was different. Each had their own life and their own history." He offers a similar answer when asked to compare Pele's Brazil in 1970 with Maradona's Argentina in 1986. "There is no way to compare them," he says. "The style is completely different."

Macaya's refusal to offer definitive rankings has helped him remain respected throughout his long career. As he covers his 18th World Cup, his perspective offers a reminder that football, like the players who grace it, is best understood with nuance and patience.