In a moment that transcended the usual pre-match press conference routine, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni set aside his customary deflection tactics on Friday to give a straight answer to a question from a man who has been covering World Cups since before Scaloni was born.
The question: Would Lionel Messi start against Jordan in Saturday’s Group J finale?
The questioner: Enrique Macaya Márquez, the 91-year-old Argentine broadcasting legend who is covering his 18th consecutive World Cup — a record that FIFA has officially recognised as the most by any journalist in history.
When Macaya Márquez rose to ask his question at the press conference in Arlington, the room fell silent. Fellow journalists applauded the veteran broadcaster, acknowledging the weight of the moment.
Scaloni, visibly moved, did not hesitate.
“Honestly, it’s a pleasure to answer a question from you,” the manager said, turning directly to the 91-year-old. “You’ve covered 18 World Cups — it’s incredible.”
The Argentine coach then offered a personal reflection. “I remember that when I was playing for Argentina, you were already a major figure in journalism, and today you’re even more so.”
Then came the answer every reporter in the room was waiting for.
“If someone else asked me the question, I’d definitely dodge it,” Scaloni admitted. “But since it’s you, I’ll answer. Leo is going to start on the bench.”
‘You deserve an honest answer’
Scaloni elaborated that Messi would enter the match later, with Argentina already having secured top spot in Group J after consecutive victories over Algeria and Austria. The decision is precautionary — protecting the 39-year-old captain’s fitness ahead of the knockout rounds.
“Leo will start on the bench,” Scaloni confirmed. “I’m answering because you deserve a sincere response.”
The manager also stressed that those replacing Messi in the starting eleven have earned their opportunity. “The ones who are going to play deserve to play; they are part of the team,” he said. “Every effort we put into training is because of them, that’s why we’re here.”
A remarkable career spanning seven decades
Macaya Márquez’s presence at the 2026 World Cup is itself a story of extraordinary endurance. Born in Buenos Aires on November 20, 1934, he attended his first World Cup in Sweden in 1958 at age 23 — travelling via Dakar, Italy, Denmark and southern Sweden on a Douglas DC-7 aircraft that “had to stop practically everywhere”.
He has not missed a single tournament since. In 2022, FIFA and the International Sports Press Association honoured him for his unparalleled achievement.
Despite health concerns in recent years, missing the tournament was never an option. “I feel as though I have an obligation to do it,” Macaya Márquez said before departing for the United States. “I don’t know how much longer it will go on, but I’ll try to make the most of the one I have in front of me.”
After the press conference, Scaloni posed for a photograph with the veteran journalist — a moment that captured the mutual respect between two men who have each, in their own way, become pillars of Argentine football.
Argentina’s match against Jordan kicks off on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Messi watching from the bench — at least for the opening minutes.
