Referee from Goiás at the World Cup is successful on social media: ‘The legend’ Goiás referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio became a topic on social media after being chosen to take charge of the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa. In publications shared by fans, the professional started to be called “the legend”, in messages that highlight his career, experience and presence in yet another edition of the main world football tournament. ✅ Click and follow the g1 GO channel on WhatsApp Unlike the jokes normally directed at referees, the publications about Wilton have a tone of recognition. In montages and messages shared by fans, the Goiano player appears as a reference in Brazilian and global refereeing, with emphasis on the trust he received from FIFA when he was chosen for one of the most important matches in the competition. In the publications, Wilton appears alongside some of the biggest names in world football, such as Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham and Virgil van Dijk. The montages are accompanied by humorous and complimentary messages, with captions such as “My God, the legend Wilton Pereira Sampaio”, “Taking a photo with the legend” and “My God, he exists”. The publications reinforce fans' recognition of the referee from Goiás, who was chosen to referee the opening match of the World Cup. Born in Teresina de Goiás, in the north of the state, Wilton arrived at the Goiana Football Federation (FGF) between 2010 and 2011. According to the entity's president, Ronei Ferreira de Freitas, from his first years in refereeing he already demonstrated characteristics that caught the attention of those who followed his work. "Wilton is a professional who needs no comment. Very dedicated, very polite, a well-educated person. From the moment he arrived to us, we began to understand that he had a very big future in relation to arbitration", he stated. READ ALSO: VIDEO: Referee from Goiás will referee the opening match of the World Cup Guto Miguel's father slowed down his career as a lawyer to support his son in tennis Goalkeeper shows the routine of a football player on game day; video Wilton Pereira is going to his third World Cup Reproduction/ TV Anhanguera Road to the World Cup The referee's trajectory was built within Goiás's arbitration, where he received technical support, participated in training processes and gained space in important state football matches. Over the years, Wilton went on to lead the main football classics in Goiás, gained national recognition and joined the FIFA Aspirants squad, a stage that preceded his consolidation on the international scene. Today, at 44 years old, he is making his third appearance in World Cups as one of the main names in Brazilian refereeing. For the FGF, the presence of the referee at the opening of the tournament represents recognition of the work developed over more than a decade. "He has already participated in other World Cup editions, but now opening the World Cup has a very big meaning. It means a lot for our state, it means a lot for our Brazil and for national refereeing", said Ronei. In addition to international recognition, Wilton is also seen as an example for new generations of referees. According to the Goiana Football Federation, his dedication to training, discipline and constant search for improvement have transformed him into a reference within the category. The president of the entity states that the success achieved by the referee is a direct result of the commitment demonstrated throughout his career. “A person who is extremely deserving of his success, because he has always dedicated himself to training and games”, he highlighted. 📱 See other news from the region on g1 Goiás.