The passion for the official World Cup sticker album gained an unexpected participant in Rio de Janeiro. Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli, known for his time at major South American football clubs, was spotted participating in a sticker exchange alongside his six-year-old son, Leon.
The scene, captured by attendees of the collectors' gathering, quickly drew attention on social media. Accustomed to the pitch, the locker rooms, and the pressure of major competitions, the coach appeared in a very different environment: surrounded by children, parents, and fans searching for the coveted duplicate stickers.
Fever that swept through the country
With the World Cup approaching, the official sticker album has once again mobilized thousands of Brazilians. Exchange points have been spreading across various cities in the country, bringing together collectors of all ages.
It was at one of these gatherings that Sampaoli appeared accompanied by his son. The coach's participation drew attention mainly for showing a more familiar and relaxed side of the Argentinian, normally associated with intensity on the sidelines.
Two World Cups on his resume.
Sampaoli's presence at a sticker-trading session has a special symbolic meaning. After all, the coach knows the biggest tournament in world football intimately.
He managed the Chilean national team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and four years later he was in charge of Argentina at the World Cup held in Russia.
In addition to his stints with national teams, Sampaoli has built a distinguished career in South American football, including spells at Flamengo, Santos, and Atlético-MG.
Relaxing moment
Away from press conferences and tactical discussions, the coach was seen participating normally in sticker trading alongside his son, like any other collector.
The image went viral precisely because it showed one of the continent's best-known coaches sharing a simple, familiar moment amidst the fever that gripped football fans on the eve of the World Cup.
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