An Argentine football fan’s incredible journey of nearly 3,000 kilometers, completed mostly by hitchhiking with minimal funds, has earned him a nomination for FIFA’s prestigious “Fan of the Year” award.
Alejo Ciganotto, 23, traveled from a city near Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro to support his club, Racing, in a crucial Copa Libertadores semi-final match. He began his trek on October 4 with only approximately $50 in his pocket. His odyssey took 13 days to cover the vast distance.
To fund his trip, Ciganotto relied on hitchhiking and selling raffle tickets he carried. “I left my house with approximately $50 and a raffle ticket with 100 numbers to sell, which gave me another $150 from that, in addition to some donations from people I received along the way,” Ciganotto told UOL.
Ciganotto arrived in Rio five days before Racing faced Flamengo in the first leg of the semi-finals. While there, he stayed in a hotel, visited local favelas, and connected with other Argentine supporters. Racing ultimately lost the first leg 1-0.
After the match, Ciganotto remained in Brazil for a few days, waiting for return tickets provided by an Argentine tourism agency. He returned to Buenos Aires in time for the second leg. Racing drew the second leg, which led to their elimination from the tournament.
This was not Ciganotto’s first demanding cross-border trip to follow Racing. He is a well-known figure among South American football “hinchas,” or passionate fans. The date for the FIFA ‘The Best’ awards gala has not yet been announced.