Eduard Bello, former player of Mazatlan FC of the Liga MX, and Gabriel Cichero were two of the former members of the Venezuelan national soccer team who celebrated the fall of Nicolas Maduro as leader of this country on Saturday, January 3rd. It will be etched in history.

Both Venezuelan soccer players spoke out on their social media accounts after Maduro and his wife were captured by US military forces in the early hours of January 3rd, generating a wave of reactions in the country's sports and society, as well as internationally.

Eduard Bello posted the following message on his Instagram account, which stirred up all of Venezuela, especially since his statement was interpreted as a sign of freedom and faith. The post was accompanied by an image of a crowd waving Venezuelan flags, along with a biblical passage that captured the attention of thousands of users: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them (Matthew 18:20).”

The post was adopted by thousands of followers as a symbol of faith and hope at a crucial moment for the South American country, as the message not only appealed to the The message was interpreted by many followers as a sign of faith and hope at a crucial moment for the South American country. It was not a religious matter, but rather a call to maintain emotional calm during a time of great uprising due to political tension, forced migration, and the social crisis affecting thousands of his compatriots. The post not only appealed to religion but also became an emotional symbol for a community marked by years of political tension, forced migration, and social crisis. Shortly afterward, the striker clarified his stance by accompanying the image with a direct and forceful message that further amplified the impact of his statement: “VENEZUELA, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT!”

This phrase was replicated thousands of times and taken by hundreds of users as a collective expression of relief after the crisis generated by the collapse of Nicolas Maduro's regime.

Hope for Gabriel Cichero

For his part, Gabriel Cichero, former defender for the Vinotinto national team, posted the following phrase on his Instagram account: “Freedom 2026,” accompanied by an image of him celebrating goals with the Venezuelan national team and looking to the sky, along with the following message: “The change in Venezuela begins.” “Let's all unite in embracing a country in need of unity and a #winnermentality,” the footballer wrote.

The 41-year-old former player played 68 matches for the Venezuelan national team, scoring four goals and being part of the squad that played in the 2011 Copa America in Argentina. At the club level, Cichero played for Newell's Old Boys in Argentina—where he played 26 matches and scored one goal—as well as stints in Europe with Lecce in Italy, Nantes and Lens in France, ending his professional career in Spain.