Among the pool of talented players from Spain and Argentina during the awarding ceremony of FIFA World Cup finals, there was a Filipina standing in the sidelines. 

Hailing from Tarlac City, Lovely Sta. Ana is one of the crews chosen by Qatar Airways to hold and deliver the Golden Boot award towards the pitch. 

“I was informed by Qatar Airways about a month before the ceremony,” Sta. Ana told DAILY TRIBUNE Tuesday morning. 

“I felt very grateful and excited when I found out I would be part of such a special moment,” she added. 

Asked about the preparations for football’s grandest stage which takes place every four years, Sta. Ana shared that they arranged their visas, accreditation, and other requirements in advance.

"It was one of those moments that didn’t feel real until I was actually there. I tried to stay calm, follow all the instructions, and enjoy every second. I wanted to be fully present and appreciate the experience," she said.

At the pitch

“The atmosphere was incredible. You could really feel the excitement from everyone in the stadium. Walking onto the pitch and seeing everything come together is a memorable experience,” the 32-year-old crew detailed. 

She also seized the opportunity to take snaps with players of newly-crowned World Cup champions Spain, such as Golden Glove winner Unai Simón and FIFA Young Player awardee Pau Cubarsí. 

Sta. Ana described the Spanish players as “very kind, humble, and respectful,” 

“Even though it was only a short interaction, they made the moment feel special, and I was grateful to meet them,” she expressed.

In some snaps, Sta. Ana could be seen standing behind the United States President Donald Trump.

According to Sta. Ana, she is just one of the three Filipinas who participated in this year’s World Cup, one of them was present in the battle for third place match between France and England in Miami. 

Prior to joining Qatar Airways in 2022, Sta. Ana worked with Philippine Airlines Express for five years, from 2017-2022.