The summit "commentary" of the Libertadores Cup final goes viral, as a 15-year-old Peruvian boy's dream comes true

Written by Han Bing Most football-loving youngsters dream of being players, and some want to be coaches. But 15-year-old Peruvian Cliver Huaman is different; his goal is to be a football reporter, particularly a commentator. In the age of social media, anyone can become an internet celebrity overnight, and this time, Huaman was the fortunate one.

On November 29, during the Libertadores Cup final, 15-year-old Huaman climbed to the top of Candela Hill beside the Monumental Stadium where the final was held, and "live streamed" the match on his TikTok account. To support this "most important live broadcast of his life," a long-distance bus company from his hometown sponsored his ticket to Lima, Peru’s capital. After an 18-hour bumpy journey, Huaman arrived at the venue but was unable to get a press pass due to being underage. Undeterred, he took a motorcycle to Candela Hill next to the stadium, finding an excellent vantage point for his live stream. From there, he had a panoramic view of Lima and especially the stadium hosting the Libertadores final.

There was no commentary box, no reporters, no broadcast backdrop—only a blue sky and the distant stadium at the foot of the hill, witnessing the "peak" moment of Huaman's life. Wearing a suit and draped in the red, orange, and yellow flag of his home province, Andahuaylas, Huaman originally intended only to showcase his hometown during the broadcast. He never expected to become a wildly popular "commentator influencer" across South America. With a tripod holding up his phone and a microphone in hand, Huaman’s passionate and rhythmical commentary, combined with the unique panoramic view and a group of ticketless enthusiastic fans who climbed the hill with him, offered an unofficial yet thrilling version of the match broadcast.

Huaman’s "peak live stream" was watched by thousands simultaneously, and clips of his broadcast went viral throughout Latin America, with each video averaging over 600,000 views. His Instagram post showing the phone screen focused on the final stadium attracted more than 300,000 likes. Subsequently, mainstream media across Latin America reported on him, viewing his achievement as an innovative example of using technology to overcome traditional structural barriers in sports journalism. Huaman became a role model for young people in the social media era, responding to the official event’s rejection of football passion by embracing a natural, grassroots approach.

Huaman hails from Andahuaylas Province in Peru’s Andean mountains. His father works at a local radio station and often took young Huaman to work. At age three, Huaman loved speaking into the microphone and was captivated by the passionate football commentators at the station, which inspired his childhood dream of becoming a football reporter on camera. In 2024, Huaman made his television debut: after a match between Peru Sports University and his hometown team, Chanka, a reporter from Peru’s ATV TV interviewed him. The young Huaman was calm during his first appearance and earned studio approval by analyzing game highlights live.

Later, when interviewed by Peru’s national television, Huaman answered in Quechua, the language of his Andean homeland, making a lasting impression as the "little reporter" without a press pass. Using the online name Pol Deportes, he had already gained some recognition reporting events on social media. After the sensational "peak live stream" that shook South America, Huaman became an overnight star. On December 2, Peru’s ATV TV invited him to co-commentate a playoff semifinal between Sporting Cristal and Lima United alongside a seasoned journalist. Huaman wore his hometown team Chanka’s jersey for the broadcast and provided commentary for the opening minutes of the second half, fully showcasing his talent.

Huaman’s rise to fame made Latin American media recognize the popularity and commercial potential of live sports streaming on social platforms. Following his "peak live stream," major Peruvian media outlets called for more opportunities for Huaman to appear on screen. If the young Huaman’s face appears on Peruvian TV during next year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, no one would be surprised. Playing football can change the life path of young players, and commentating on football matches can do the same. Huaman’s remarkable journey proves that the underlying logic of social media dissemination makes anything possible.