Few people in football history have witnessed as much as Enrique Macaya Márquez. The Argentine broadcaster, known simply as Macaya, has built a career that stretches across almost seven decades and includes coverage of 18 consecutive World Cups — a record that reflects his extraordinary connection with the game.

His journey began at the 1958 tournament in Sweden, when he was only 24 years old. Among the stars of that competition was a 17-year-old Pelé, but Macaya’s first major memory from the tournament came from Argentina’s painful 6-1 defeat against Czechoslovakia, a match later remembered as the “Disaster of Sweden”.

“We knew almost nothing about Czechoslovakia. We had no information, no data, and they surprised us,” Macaya recalled, describing a defeat that has stayed with him throughout his career.

Since then, he has watched football change dramatically. He has reported on legends such as Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi, while witnessing the sport move from traditional television coverage to the digital era, with instant statistics and increasingly global tournaments.

Despite all those changes, one principle has remained constant for Macaya: the importance of avoiding quick conclusions. For him, understanding a person and their journey must come before making any judgement.

Scaloni’s rise and the importance of patience

That belief influenced his reaction when Lionel Scaloni was appointed Argentina manager in 2018. At the time, Macaya admitted he was uncertain about the decision because he did not know much about the coach.

“I didn’t have high hopes. I didn’t know him,” he said.

Scaloni eventually transformed doubts into admiration, guiding Argentina to success in the Copa América, Finalissima, and World Cup. What initially appeared to be a risky choice became one of football’s most successful stories in recent years.

For Macaya, Scaloni’s achievements proved why patience and deeper understanding are essential before judging anyone. He believes that a person’s qualities cannot be evaluated without knowing their background, character, and complete story.

Argentina have once again reached the semi-finals of the World Cup and are preparing to face England, with Macaya convinced that the team has the ability to lift the trophy again.

“Of course they can,” he said. “If we’re talking about what is possible, about the future, I believe Argentina is capable of winning.”

Messi, Maradona and the impossible comparisons

When asked about his favourite Argentine player, Macaya’s answer was immediate.

“Clearly, it’s Messi,” he said.

However, when the conversation turned to the greatest player of all time, the veteran broadcaster refused to provide a definitive answer. In his view, comparing footballers from different eras is almost impossible because the game itself has constantly evolved.

“There’s no way to measure players throughout history,” Macaya explained. “Times have changed. Opponents have changed. Every player is unique.”

The same approach applies when discussing Messi and Maradona. Although both wore Argentina’s famous number 10 shirt and became symbols of their generation, Macaya believes their careers cannot be judged through a simple comparison.

“The opponents were different. The needs were different. The support from their teammates was different. Each had their own life and their own history,” he said.

He also rejects comparisons between Pelé’s Brazil team of 1970 and Maradona’s Argentina side from 1986, insisting that the different styles and circumstances make such debates impossible to settle.

A career built on memories and respect

For Macaya, football history is not defined only by victories. While World Cup triumphs naturally hold a special place in his memories, he believes defeats are also an important part of the story.

“There are many memorable matches. Negative results are also part of that memory,” he said.

Among the moments that stand out most for him are Argentina’s World Cup successes. He believes the 1986 triumph was especially significant for Maradona, as the trophy fulfilled the dream of becoming a world champion.

After nearly 70 years documenting football’s greatest moments, Macaya knows that retirement is approaching. Yet even when discussing the end of his career, he keeps the same relaxed attitude that has defined his work.

“I’m going to retire at some point,” he joked.

For a journalist who has spent a lifetime recording the evolution of football, his farewell may eventually come — but his influence on the sport’s history will remain unforgettable.