FIFA laughed at after giving a special gift to a World Cup legend
FIFA recently honored a World Cup legend with a special gift to celebrate his lifelong dedication to covering international football. But fans were quick to joke about the present and asked for something a little nicer.
Hartmut Scherzer, a big football fan and German journalist, attended his first World Cup when legends like Garrincha and Pele led Brazil to victory, and his hero Uwe Seeler scored twice for West Germany. Four years later, he witnessed one of England’s most famous moments when Bobby Charlton’s team beat West Germany.
Since 1962, Scherzer has been to every World Cup, making the 2026 tournament in North America his 17th visit to football’s biggest event. Now 88 years old, he’s traveled the world covering not only football but also 33 Tour de France races and 21 Olympic Games. At the recent World Cup match between Germany and Ecuador, he was busy taking notes, showing his passion for the sport.
To recognize his amazing streak, FIFA gave Scherzer a mini FIFA World Cup trophy before the match. The journalist happily posed with the small replica, even as Germany lost to Ecuador—though Germany had already secured first place in their group.
Fans, however, weren’t impressed with the gift and joked that it looked like a cheap copy. One fan wrote, “I got one of those for $8.99 and never even went to a World Cup!” Others suggested FIFA should give Scherzer something more special and unique.
Despite the jokes, Scherzer will surely appreciate being recognized by FIFA for his dedication. He recently shared that his favorite World Cups were the one in 1974 in Germany and Mexico 1986, especially remembering Maradona’s incredible play.
In the end, it’s the love of football and the memories that matter most to this football icon.