GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) 鈥� Long after Mexico鈥檚 win against , fans young and old lined up outside the stadium to take photos with H茅ctor Ch谩vez and his big black sombrero.
Also known as Caramelo, candy in English, Ch谩vez is arguably as well-known in Mexico as the members of the national team.
He says the game last Thursday in Guadalajara was his 543rd match watching 鈥淓l Tri,鈥� which he has followed around the world since Mexico last hosted the World Cup in 1986.
Now at his 11the World Cup, Ch谩vez is flanked by his 21-year-old son, also called H茅ctor Ch谩vez, and known as Caramelo Jr. Both wear oversized sombreros with their nicknames written in all caps, making them hard to miss at stadiums.
鈥淢exico has one of the best fan bases in the world, one that travels the most to matches, and one of the most colorful ones in the world, with tradition, identity and pride,鈥� the 64-year-old Ch谩vez told The Associated Press. 鈥淚鈥檓 very fortunate to be here, with my son by my side in his fifth World Cup, to keep supporting the national team with everything we鈥檝e got.鈥�
Ch谩vez has become a familiar sight in every stadium where the team plays in Mexico and around the world, including friendlies. He said the first national team match he attended was on Feb. 19, 1986, when Mexico faced the Soviet Union in the country鈥檚 capital. His first World Cup match was that same year, on June 3 against Belgium.
Despite being at another World Cup at home, Ch谩vez said he struggled to make it to the games this time.
鈥淭his has been the most expensive World Cup in history, some of my friends who usually accompany me couldn鈥檛 come,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had to break the piggy bank, and we are here with the support of our family, because without this support it wouldn鈥檛 be possible. The truth is that we鈥檝e worked hard to be here, but finally we made it and we will keep following the national team to the end.鈥�
Caramelo is popular but also has his critics
Despite his popularity, Ch谩vez is not universally loved in Mexico. Critics say he鈥檚 getting too much attention and question whether he鈥檚 promoting himself or the national team. He鈥檚 annoyed some fans by throwing his hat onto the field, including at the game between Colombia and Uzbekistan in Mexico City last week.
鈥淲ell, they say that if they are criticizing you, it’s because you are doing something good. We try not to pay too much attention to it. We preferer to hold on to the great support that the fans have shown us in person,鈥� the younger H茅ctor Ch谩vez said.
Many teams have superfans who attract headlines at World Cups. Spain had Manuel C谩ceres, known as 鈥淢anolo el del bombo鈥� or 鈥淢anolo the bass drummer,鈥� who followed the Spanish national team since the 1982 World Cup. He died last year. Brazil鈥檚 Cl贸vis Acosta Fernandes, known as the 鈥淕a煤cho Da Copa,鈥� died in 2015.
Congo has , who gained fame during the Africa Cup of Nations for posing as a statue of Congo鈥檚 assassinated independence hero Patrice Lumumba. He missed the team鈥檚 first game at this year鈥檚 World Cup but was expected to make it to Tuesday鈥檚 match against Colombia.
Ch谩vez worried that die-hard fans are being priced out of the World Cup, affecting the atmosphere in stadiums.
鈥淚 miss the hardcore fans who follow their teams, who chant and cheer during the whole 90 minutes. Did you notice that they couldn鈥檛 even get the wave to work again?” he said after Mexico’s match against South Korea on June 18. 鈥淎nd why is that? It鈥檚 because we don鈥檛 have these fans. And why don鈥檛 we have these fans? It鈥檚 because they can鈥檛 afford these expensive tickets.鈥�
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