Veracruz: Mexican fans enjoy Lucas and Momo, the people’s idols

Lucas Bergamini and Momo Gonzalez are the kind of players you can’t help but fall in love with. Two idols of the people, the kind of players fans around the world would watch for hours. Lucas and Momo, often reaching the latter stages of tournaments, always smiling even if it’s other pairs who end up lifting the trophy. Because the Brazilian and the Spaniard from Antequera (Andalusia) – despite occupying very respectable FIP ranking positions, No. 12 and No. 13 respectively – play for the joy of it. And thanks to their technical qualities, they are among the players amateur padel fans study the most, trying to steal a víbora, a chiquita, or a volée to bring into their own game.

Being beloved without being the best: sports history is full of people’s champions. In Formula 1, Gilles Villeneuve was one of the most admired drivers ever, yet he never won a World Championship. The same goes for Chris Amon, who didn’t even win a single Grand Prix. From four wheels to two, from Villeneuve to Colin Edwards, a Superbike great who could never quite find consistency in MotoGP. Millions of tennis players dreamed of being Goran Ivanisevic, who captured a single Slam (at Wimbledon) despite unlimited talent. Jonah Lomu left us before ever becoming world champion with the All Blacks, and Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson retired without an NBA ring. All of them achieved less than their potential might have allowed, yet their uniqueness secured them legendary status.

Their connection with fans is constant: Bergamini, on his X profile, replies to supporters and enthusiasts and often praises other players (as he did a few weeks ago with Mike Yanguas) for spectacular points. In September, he dedicated the FIP Platinum title in Sevilla to his partner Paquito Navarro, who won the trophy on home soil, his first as a new father. When Momo plays, meanwhile, crowds go wild for the “gentle champion”, who after every match – win or lose – stops to sign giant balls, take selfies, and give autographs. He hopes to do the same in December in Barcelona, the venue of the Premier Padel Finals, where last year Gonzalez – partnered with Edu Alonso – reached the semifinals. At the moment, the Spaniard sits 15th in the Race, but in Mexico – between the FIP Platinum in Veracruz and the Acapulco Major – he is chasing the points he needs to qualify.

Bergamini has already made his debut at the FIP Platinum Skechers, pairing with Javi Leal to defeat Juan Cruz Belluati and Alvaro Montiel 5-7 6-1 6-0. Today it will be Momo’s turn: together with Fran Guerrero, he will face Juani de Pascual and Alex Chozas.