مدير عام كرة القدم
"The two most famous Argentines in the United States: my dad and Messi!"
Nico Cantor is beaming with pride. So, too, is his father, the legendary Andres Cantor, who is conveniently sitting right next to him. While Lionel Messi may be the man who created so many iconic moments, Andres Cantor has been the soundtrack for so many of them.
For every memorable Messi goal, there’s an iconic Cantor call of it coming in right behind.
Messi’s footprint is secure. So, too, is Cantor’s. The elder Cantor, though, isn’t writing the story alone. Famous for the legacy he’s built with Telemundo and beyond, Andres is now watching on as his son, Nico, builds on it with his work with CBS, continuing to carry the Cantor torch in his own way. This wasn’t always the plan, but it surely is cool, and it’s something that both can now take so much pride in.
"Believe me, I didn’t push him into this," the elder Cantor tells BALLGM with a laugh. "He just naturally fell into it. Watching him grow professionally has been tremendous. I think, and I know I’m biased, I think he’s doing a terrific job."
Better than most, the Cantors understand the complexities of the American soccer landscape. They can also understand Messi’s impact on it – generally for good.
The Cantors discussed Messi’s legacy, fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino’s كأس العالم path for the USMNT and the culture of soccer in the latest edition of Mic’d Up a recurring feature in which BALLGM US taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
NOTE: This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
“The two most famous Argentines in the United States: my dad and Messi!”
Nico Cantor is beaming with pride. So, too, is his father, the legendary Andres Cantor, who is conveniently sitting right next to him. While Lionel Messi may be the man who created so many iconic moments, Andres Cantor has been the soundtrack for so many of them.
For every memorable Messi goal, there’s an iconic Cantor call of it coming in right behind.
Messi’s footprint is secure. So, too, is Cantor’s. The elder Cantor, though, isn’t writing the story alone. Famous for the legacy he’s built with Telemundo and beyond, Andres is now watching on as his son, Nico, builds on it with his work with CBS, continuing to carry the Cantor torch in his own way. This wasn’t always the plan, but it surely is cool, and it’s something that both can now take so much pride in.
“Believe me, I didn’t push him into this,” the elder Cantor tells BALLGM with a laugh. “He just naturally fell into it. Watching him grow professionally has been tremendous. I think, and I know I’m biased, I think he’s doing a terrific job.”
Better than most, the Cantors understand the complexities of the American soccer landscape. They can also understand Messi’s impact on it – generally for good.
The Cantors discussed Messi’s legacy, fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup path for the USMNT and the culture of soccer in the latest edition ofu0026nbsp;Mic’d Up a recurring feature in whichu0026nbsp;BALLGM USu0026nbsp;taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
NOTE: This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
BALLGM: You both have such different views of Messi. Andres, you’ve been around for his whole career. Nico, you probably don’t remember what the sport was like without him. Now, he’s here in the U.S. and, while you may not feel his impact for another 10-15 years, there’s still that impact. What do you think that will look like when this is all said and done?
Andres Cantor: We knew he was going to make an impact when he signed, but I didn’t expect the type of impact nationwide. You see the different teams and their home games at bigger stadiums, and they sell them out. Every time he takes a corner, if this were anywhere else in the world, visiting fans would be yelling and cussing and throwing things at him. Here, it’s cell phones out capturing video, yelling “Messi, Messi, Messi!” Half the people in the stands have Messi jerseys. He’s the most recognizable soccer star that has ever played in this country. You ask a kid who’s playing the game and who is the first name that comes to mind? They will all unequivocally say Messi. That’s the impact, both culturally and business-wise. We will have withdrawals when he does retire or when he’s no longer in the league. We will then see the impact he has left behind when he calls it quits.
Nico Cantor: I think having Messi in the league has forced Major League Soccer to think about a few things that they’ve had in place there. The latest example is the All-Star Game. Him not going, MLS was forced to suspend him because that was a rule in place – and there would have been a massive uproar around the league if they didn’t. Inter Miami is really pushing the envelope with rule changes and roster changes because they have shown to be ambitious, especially since Messi’s arrival. This is a big moment for the U.S. There’s going to be a before and after, just like there was a before and after David Beckham. I think this is magnified much more than Beckham. The impact is going to be much more lasting than the years that he’s played in the United States.
BALLGM: Andres, you mentioned the end there and there’s no doubt that the end of Messi’s career is coming. Father time is undefeated, even when you’re Messi. Knowing that, what else is there left for him to do? He’s won everything, achieved everything. What else is there that you want to see him do before he inevitably calls it quits?
Andres Cantor: Maybe winning the MLS title? There’s this big debate I’m having with a lot of people regarding the next World Cup. I think he’ll play, but we know he’s not particularly fond of records. Cristiano will probably play in his sixth World Cup. Memo Ochoa will probably play his sixth. Messi will not be alone in that because I think a few other players will have that sixth World Cup. I don’t think he’s chasing that. It took him five to win it, and I think he might be realizing that this Argentina team has a chance to do it again. I think he senses that he can contribute, either as a starter or even if there’s just a free kick you can put him in for. I always use the same analogy. There is a scene after the match was over in Qatar and Messi’s family was still up in the box. He looked up and said, “That’s it” in Spanish. It was him completing football, basically.
Nico Cantor: There’s nothing Messi can do sports-wise to tarnish his legacy. It’s permanent ink. It’s the longevity that’s the most incredible. Other than Ronaldo, there isn’t another footballer with this kind of longevity. My childhood was the two best footballers that I have ever seen going head to head, pushing each other to the limits in ways that, for many years, were unimaginable. We were privileged to witness those two go head to head and, obviously, from an Argentine perspective, seeing Messi was a gift that I could never have imagined receiving.
BALLGM: Andres, you, in particular, have been around for so many of Messi’s best moments, including the World Cup in 2022. Nico, you grew up watching those moments and now, as a broadcaster, get to cover the man you grew up watching. Now you are both part of a Lowe’s campaign with him, Cantors and Messi. What’s that like? What does that say about where your name fits in all of this?
Andres Cantor: I’ve been around for more than 40 years now, and I’ve tried to convey this to Nico. I pinch myself literally every time I get to call a big match. I’ve been privileged enough to have the best seat in the house to the biggest games in soccer for the last four decades. It’s no small thing. I’m privileged and blessed, and to be a part of the Lowe’s team in our own way, to be associated with all of the things that Messi has in store until the World Cup, it’s great to be in that same boat. It’s amazing.
Nico Cantor: Waking up every day and getting to talk soccer is great. I’ve lived this my entire life and, as you get older and realize what other people do for a living, I have friends who work 9-5 jobs and I don’t think I could ever see myself doing that. I know that this is a privilege and I’m in awe of it sometimes. It drives me, it motivates me and it defines me. Bringing that all together with Lowe’s, I think it’s an awesome thing.
BALLGM: So much of the talk around the USMNT this summer was about culture and, in many ways, about how Mauricio Pochettino, a fellow Argentine, is looking to shape it. In Argentina, Messi doesn’t miss a game, whether it’s a World Cup final or a meaningless trip to Bolivia. But this summer, the U.S. had to navigate a tournament without its biggest star, Christian Pulisic, and several other big names. That must have been entirely foreign to Pochettino. You add in MLS with salary caps and All-Star Games and everything, and there’s just such a different culture. Could the U.S. learn from Argentina, or vice versa?
Nico Cantor: I think there were a couple of moments where Pochettino was probably struck by differences in mindset, culturally, with soccer in the U.S. vs what he’s used to. It’s a different demand, but I hope he’s able to at least plant a certain seed with this team. What we saw this summer, I think, is a fallout of not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and everything that has followed since that moment. The USMNT was sent down a certain path after not qualifying for the World Cup in Russia. There are certain remnants that we’ve seen with the current generation, where there wasn’t an older generation to instill certain values that were, honestly, similar to the culture we’re all citing right now. I do think in 2014, 2010, ’06, ’02, ’98, ’94 and ’90, there was a certain culture instilled that I think was more representative of a global football identity of most national teams. Hopefully, in a year’s time, I’m proven wrong and there’s this shift in mentality, one that we’re all waiting for.
Andres Cantor: I have to say that there’s only one culture in soccer, the culture of winning. In Thailand, in Mongolia, and it has to be here. Just because one player decided to listen to his body during the summer doesn’t mean that others didn’t want to be here trying to earn a spot for next year’s World Cup. It’s more of a mentality question of the player’s frame of mind when it comes to teh Gold Cup. For a young American player that’s been abroad for so many years – Pulisic has won the Champions League, has played for the biggest clubs in the world, playing 50-60 games – and then having to play Haiti and five more games just to get to a final, which is the only game that matters. I can understand where he’s coming from. But unfortunately, the USMNT belongs to CONCACAF and this is the most important tournament they have. It’s unheard of, in my view, that a player wouldn’t want to play for a national team. Ask around and every other player around the world wants to play, especially when called up. I think the culture of winning has to change, and I think that’s what Pochettino is trying to instill.
BALLGM: Everyone wants to make their family proud, right? You two have the unique experience in that you can do this together. When you step back, what are the moments you’re most proud of?
Andres Cantor: My proudest moments were the end of each semester when he brought home an A+.
Nico Cantor: That’s such a weak answer because I did not bring home any A+s.
Andres Cantor: The sky is the limit for him because he’s got an encyclopedic memory of things that have happened in the world of football, even before he was born. I don’t know how he does it. He cross-references things happening in Europe with something that has happened in the past. It’s about being prepared, of course, because this is happening live. But it’s also just cross-referencing things that happened 20 or 30 years ago that you can’t prepare for. He’s worked so hard to prepare for what he’s doing now.
Nico Cantor: I haven’t had a moment in my career like calling a World Cup final the way my dad is able to call a final, especially one that involved Argentina, with relative ease. Put Argentina aside, he’s such a professional. For me, it’s very difficult to see and listen to my dad because the concept I have of him is that he’s my father, Andres Cantor. It’s hard to see Andres Cantor, the journalist. But then you see him in these moments that are so imposing, like a World Cup final. It’s ginormous, right? The stakes are so high for everyone and he steps up into that moment and meets that moment with so much class. It’s daunting just to think about it. But then this is the guy that’s giving me crap, being goofy in the hotel the night before, but he’s still able to step up. I imagine it’s what footballers and their families feel. It’s your dad, and you can chill and have a beer. But suddenly, they turn up as a world-class athlete with this incredible gift. If I’m proud of anything, it’s seeing my dad at his best because he’s the best you can be in this industry.
July 29 – Dax McCarty: Apple TV commentator on why MLS was right to suspend Lionel Messi, the new Leagues Cup format, and why Club America is favorite
July 25 – Derek Rae: ESPN commentator on Gio Reyna’s flawed fit at Dortmund, why ‘nobody knows’ how good 22-year-old USMNT midfielder can be
July 7 – Callum Williams: Apple TV, world soccer commentator on the impact of Brazilian teams at the Club World Cup
June 27 – Kyle Martino: TNT analyst on USMNT goalscoring void, the state of the program and the return of Showdown to NYC
June 23, – Dax McCarty: Apple TV analyst on the opportunity, pressure facing Mauricio Pochettino and USMNT ahead of World Cup
June 19 – Herculez Gomez: ESPN analyst on why he’s bullish about Club World Cup, memories of playing in CWC, how 2026 World Cup could be ‘biggest sporting event ever’
June 17 – Herculez Gomez: ESPN analyst on Christian Pulisic controversy, state of USMNT, fractures in fan base and his admiration for ‘highly relatable’ Diego Luna
June 11 – Diego Valeri:u0026nbsp;Apple TV+ analyst on Lionel Messi’s MLS impact, supporting rival Sounders at Club World Cup, and U.S. and Argentina ties
May 21 – Taylor Twellman: Apple TV+ analyst on ‘exciting’ matchups in the Club World Cup, why a top European team will win, and how Inter Miami can benefit
May 13 – Kay Murray:u0026nbsp;ESPN FC analyst on Americans supporting Club World Cup, European teams vying for trophy, and whether an MLS team can make a run
May 9 – Luis Garcia:u0026nbsp;ESPN Analyst on Barcelona and ‘fantastic’ Lamine Yamal, why ريال مدريد lack a philosophy, and Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool
May 1 – Derek Rae:u0026nbsp;ESPN analyst on Harry Kane’s trophy quest, Gio Reyna’s Borussia Dortmund struggles, the meaning behind ‘the smell of the stable’
April 28 – Christina Unkel:u0026nbsp;CBS Sports rules analyst on VAR challenges, ‘visibility’ in refereeing, former players becoming officials
April 25 – Alejandro Moreno:u0026nbsp;ESPN FC pundit on Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid disappointment, Carlo Ancelotti’s final season, ‘best in the world’ Lamine Yamal
April 24 – Bradley Wright-Phillips:u0026nbsp;Apple TV analyst on the ‘brilliance’ of Lionel Messi, ‘chippy’ Inter Miami, and why Kevin De Bruyne’s next team should be NYCFC
April 22 – Ali Krieger:u0026nbsp;ESPN analyst on Naomi Girma’s Chelsea move, the ‘amazing’ Emma Hayes and why NWSL ‘can’t just dilute the league by expanding’
April 16 – Jamie Carragher:u0026nbsp;CBS analyst on Club World Cup and packed schedule, ‘disappointing’ Trent Alexander-Arnold, ‘delightful’ Mo Salah deal
April 14 – Kevin Egan:u0026nbsp;Apple TV+ host on the 2026 World Cup, 2025 Club World Cup and growth of game in America
April 11 – Kay Murray:u0026nbsp;ESPN FC host on Harry Kane and Bayern Munich‘s الدوري الألماني ambitions, ‘undeniable talent’ of Gio Reyna, and Ballon d’Or race without ‘a standout contender’
April 8 – Kevin Egan:u0026nbsp;Apple TV analyst on possible Kevin De Bruyne link with Lionel Messi and MLS, Cavan Sullivan’s ‘swagger’ and ‘next-level’ Wilfried Nancy
March 26 – Kasey Keller:u0026nbsp;‘Guys that would rather be on the beach’ – ESPN’s Kasey Keller knocks ‘general malaise’ of USMNT players, says Mauricio Pochettino must show ‘he’s 100 percent committed’
March 21 – Kaylyn Kyle:u0026nbsp;Apple TV studio analyst on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, the ‘chaotic’ nature of MLS, why NWSL player exodus could ‘hurt the league
March 13 – Micah Richards:u0026nbsp;CBS Sports analyst on Man City’s future, why Real Madrid will win Champions League, and that bet with Jude Bellingham
March 11 – Antonella Gonzalez:u0026nbsp;Apple TV’s Antonella Gonzalez on interviewing Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, the rise of Latin American influence in MLS, and being a Hispanic woman in broadcasting
March 4 – Nico Cantor:u0026nbsp;CBS Analyst on ‘world-class’ Mauricio Pochettino, ‘mixed’ Champions League format, and why USL can compete with MLS
Feb 26 – Andrew Wiebe:u0026nbsp;Apple TV analyst Andrew Wiebe on San Jose Earthquakes’ ‘massive offseason’, Kevin De Bruyne’s potential MLS arrival, league’s growth
Feb. 20 – Taylor Twellman:u0026nbsp;Apple TV’s analyst on Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami ‘laying an egg’ in MLS playoffs, Cavan Sullivan, and why Cincinnati are a threat
Feb. 18 – Taylor Twellman:u0026nbsp;Apple TV analyst on USMNT World Cup aspirations, Mauricio Pochettino, and team’s signature wins – or lack thereof
Feb. 11 – Maurice Edu:u0026nbsp;Apple TV analyst on national team’s potential, Cavan Sullivan’s ‘borderline arrogance’ and ‘global shop window’ of MLS
Jan. 30 – Keith Costigan:u0026nbsp;Apple TV commentator on Mo Salah and Liverpool, the Olivier Giroud experiment at LAFC and more
Jan 28 – Nigel Reo-Coker:u0026nbsp;CBS Sports Golazo Network analyst on the new Champions League format, state of American soccer and Aston Villa
Jan 20 – Kate Scott:u0026nbsp;CBS Sports host on the American soccer psyche, USMNT’s ‘statement’ hire in Mauricio Pochettino, ‘enormous’ 2026 World Cup and why Liverpool will win Champions League
Jan 13 – DaMarcus Beasley:u0026nbsp;USMNT legend on Lionel Messi’s mindset, the ‘good groove’ for MLS and why Mauricio Pochettino is the ‘right man for the job’
Jan. 9 – Callum Williams:u0026nbsp;Soccer analyst on Lionel Messi and 2025 Club World Cup, ‘naivety towards’ South American soccer, ‘preposterous’ that Jack Grealish has ‘lost it’
Jan. 2 – Jenny Chiu:u0026nbsp;CBS reporter on ‘big changes’ by Emma Hayes, Mauricio Pochettino’s ‘pedigree’ and possible UCL glory for Inter
Dec. 17 – Stu Holden:u0026nbsp;FOX Sports analyst on the evolution of the American game, why Christian Pulisic will be ‘best U.S. Soccer player of all-time’
Dec. 12 – Brian Dunseth:u0026nbsp;Turner, Apple TV analyst on Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and USMNT’s future under Mauricio Pochettino
Dec. 5 – Jalil Anibaba:u0026nbsp;Apple TV analyst on MLS Cup predictions, Inter Miami hiring Javier Mascherano and MLS’s ‘disheartening’ coaching diversity issue
Nov. 21 – Andres Cantor:u0026nbsp;Telemundo legend on Mauricio Pochettino’s Argentine mindset, the USMNT and having a front-row seat for the rise of the American game
Nov. 16 – Matt Doyle:u0026nbsp;Apple TV analyst assesses Inter Miami’s defensive ‘insanity,’ whether Neymar could join Lionel Messi, MLS Cup favorite
Nov. 7 – Gary Neville:u0026nbsp;Veteran analyst talks USMNT World Cup hopes, ‘hell of a player’ Christian Pulisic, ‘relentless’ David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo to MLS
Oct. 31 – Herculez Gomez:u0026nbsp;ESPN FC analyst on Mauricio Pochettino’s impact, the USMNT’s ‘wide-open’ striker race, and a player pool ‘that lacks accountability’
Oct. 29 – Rebecca Lowe:u0026nbsp;NBC host on the growth of soccer, the ‘incredible’ Emma Hayes and ‘profile-raising’ Mauricio Pochettino
Oct. 24 – Andrew Wiebe:u0026nbsp;Apple TV analyst on MLS playoffs, Lionel Messi’s ‘nuclear form’ and how Inter Miami can become league’s ‘greatest team of all time
Oct. 17 – Jamie Carragher:u0026nbsp;Veteran analyst talks USMNT, slams Man City over legal case, questions Mauricio Pochettino despite ‘great’ hire
