Angel Francisco Triana, the 12 year old boy who became famous on social media

Ángel Francisco Triana, a 12-year-old boy, is the child who became famous on social media after a fan posted a photo of him with Santos Laguna forward Djaniny Tavares, looking for a marker to have his shirt autographed. The boy ended up crying in frustration. La Aficion looked for him and tells us about the passion he feels for the team since he can remember.

His passion for Santos Laguna

He recounts that his older brother transmitted to him, besides the love of family, an immense passion for the regional team, where football is one of the favorite topics of conversation and where Santos Laguna brings joy to locals and strangers alike.

"I am a Santista and I always have faith in winning, just like it was in this occasion: The third time's the charm."

Carlos Izquierdoz and Djaniny Tavares are his favorite players. The first one because of the determination he puts into defending the colors, and the second one because his goals helped Santos become champions.

His young age cannot be compared to the greatness of his passion that was reflected last weekend, when he experienced the championship of his favorite team, his family's team, and the team of all the municipalities in the Laguna region, including three cities and two states.

With ticket stubs in his hands, regardless of the cost, saving money from his school expenses, and with the help of his father, Ángel did not miss a single game of Santos as the home team at the TSM stadium this season. This included the Grand Final, where his beloved team was crowned champions for the sixth time.

"When it ended, I felt really great. I was nervous that they were going to equalize, I wanted it to end and there were 30 seconds left, the referee added another minute. When the match finished, I went out, screamed, and took off my shirt."

On this occasion, Ángel displayed, more than ever, with fervor and on the tip of his tongue, the green and white colors on his cheeks, but above all in his heart. He joined together with the rest of the fans of the Laguna club, which has experienced 35 uninterrupted years in the Mexican First Division.

When asked what he would say to the Santos Laguna players, he answered: "That they are the best, that I couldn't have found a better team than Santos, which has so much history in such a short time."

His passion goes beyond leaving a little earlier from school to see if he could catch a glimpse of the champion's parade, which would go through the traditional route from Lerdo to Torreón, running along Miguel Alemán Boulevard in Gómez Palacio. Ángel waited and walked under the bus carrying the protagonists of the Lagunera party.

Arriving at Plaza Mayor, accompanied by his brother who had just arrived from Toluca, he couldn't get it out of his mind that he wanted to get as close as possible to the stage where the players would be with the championship trophy, a trophy he longed to see up close. He took advantage of his height and melted among everyone until he reached the barriers, but he still wanted to go further.

He didn't hesitate to bypass the barriers as if he were playing soccer in the middle of the field, looking for that goal that would put him less than a meter away from the warriors he saw from a distance in the matches he attended with the "La Komún" cheerleading squad.

Being so close, he couldn't hold back the tears, shed from a mix of excitement and frustration of not being able to give his shirt to his idols to be autographed, without even having a marker with him to do it.

The frustration overwhelmed him and his screams and cries for what he wanted were captured by photographer Arturo Salazar from Milenio Laguna.

This act was witnessed by a staff member at the event, who, in collaboration with two security personnel, allowed the boy to pass through after several failed attempts to reach the stage, until he finally made it.

Up there, he was embraced by all the players, who finally signed his shirt and took pictures with him. He was able to feel and hug those who play in the club he has supported since he became aware, and who, in his opinion, is the best club in Mexico.

"Oswaldito, Gerardo Alcoba, Izquierdoz, and Brian Lozano signed it, in addition to many photos," said Ángel Francisco Triana, still with a hoarse voice from so many chants to his team of a lifetime.

The next day, he realized that what seemed like a dream was actually a reality when his sister showed him that his image, full of football fervor, was all over social media and that the club's players were looking for him to give him a Santos shirt.

"I have always, always, always liked Santos, for as long as I can remember."

"I want them to invite me, I want to meet them and have their autographs."

The warrior at heart is the second youngest of five siblings, along with his father, they form a music group where Ángel plays the piano. Although he has a special taste for musical instruments, he says he loves to sing and dreams of being a singer and studying music someday.

He says he doesn't have much skill to practice this passionate sport, but he assures that he is a first-rate connoisseur of matters concerning Santos Laguna. He has the team's colors displayed throughout his room, with countless newspaper and magazine cutout photographs, not forgetting the flag, his collection of jerseys of the Warriors, and a ceramic shield painted by himself.

Carlos Izquierdoz and Djaniny Tavares are his favorite players. The first one because of the determination he puts into defending the colors and the second one because his goals helped Santos to become champions.

In addition to spending time with a football-loving family, he says there are more Santos fans who accompany them to every game and feel the love for the shirt as if they were the captain of the team. This is how he sees it throughout his life, loving football and Club Santos Laguna.