There are seasoned football journalists, and then there is Enrique Macaya Marquez. At 91 years old, the Argentine broadcaster is in the United States covering his 18th consecutive World Cup — an unbroken run stretching back to Sweden in 1958, when a teenage Pelé announced himself to the world and Argentina suffered one of the heaviest defeats in their history.

Macaya, known simply as that throughout Argentine football circles, was 24 when he was dispatched to Sweden for that tournament. His first significant assignment was to witness Pelé's Brazil take on Austria, but it is a very different match that seared itself into his memory: Argentina's 6-1 dismantling by Czechoslovakia, a result that left the touring press corps as stunned as the players themselves.

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

A Career Built on Patience and Nuance

Nearly seven decades on, Macaya has watched football transform in ways that would have been unimaginable to that young reporter in Gothenburg. Television turned digital, statistics became instantaneous, and the World Cup grew from a relatively modest gathering into the planet's most-watched sporting event. Through all of it, Macaya — now a commentator on DSPORTS Radio — has carried a guiding philosophy: resist rushing to judgement.

That principle was tested when Lionel Scaloni was appointed Argentina head coach in 2018 in circumstances that left most observers baffled. "I didn't have high hopes," Macaya admits. "I didn't know him." Scaloni has since guided Argentina to Copa America, Finalissima and World Cup glory, transforming a widely-mocked appointment into one of football's most celebrated managerial stories. Watching that unfold, Macaya says, only reinforced his long-held conviction. "You can't pass judgement without a much deeper, more complete understanding of the person being judged."

Scaloni himself appeared to share a moment of mutual respect at Argentina's recent pre-match press conference, pausing to pose for a photograph with the veteran broadcaster — a small scene that said something larger about how Macaya is regarded inside Argentine football.

Messi, Maradona, and the Question That Deserves a Smile

Inevitably, conversation turns to the names that have dominated his working life. Asked to name his favourite Argentina player, Macaya does not hesitate: "Clearly, it's Messi." But press him on who is the greatest of all time, and the certainty dissolves into something more considered.

"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."

It is the same measured response when the Messi-versus-Maradona debate is put to him directly. "It is very difficult to make a cold comparison. 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 applies equal caution to comparing Pelé's Brazil of 1970 with Maradona's Argentina of 1986, insisting their styles were simply too different to permit a meaningful verdict.

This refusal to flatten history into tidy rankings is, arguably, what has kept Macaya respected across generations of Argentine football. He offers perspective rather than proclamations.

Looking Ahead — and Perhaps Stepping Back

Argentina have reached the semi-finals of this tournament and face England on Wednesday evening (kick-off 20:00 BST), a fixture loaded with history for both nations. Macaya is optimistic about his country's chances of lifting a second successive trophy. "Of course they can," he says. "If we're talking about what is possible, I believe Argentina is capable of winning."

As for what comes after, retirement is — finally — a word that appears in his conversation. After almost 70 years covering the world's biggest sporting event, the suggestion no longer seems entirely remote. But for now, at 91, Macaya is still here, still watching, still refusing to be rushed into easy answers. That, in itself, is worth a great deal.

Frequently asked

How many World Cups has Enrique Macaya Marquez covered?
Macaya has covered 18 consecutive World Cups, starting with the 1958 tournament in Sweden and continuing through to the 2026 edition in the United States.
Who does Macaya say is his favourite Argentina player?
He names Lionel Messi as his favourite Argentina player, though he refuses to declare any single player the greatest of all time, arguing that different eras make direct comparisons impossible.
What is the 'Disaster of Sweden' in Argentine football?
The 'Disaster of Sweden' refers to Argentina's 6-1 defeat by Czechoslovakia at the 1958 World Cup — one of the worst results in the national team's history, and Macaya's first major memory from his debut tournament.