DR Congo will play their first World Cup game for 52 years when they take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal side and, in the stands this summer, will be one of their most famous supporters.
Those who watched the Africa Cup of Nations will remember Lumumba Vea, the supporter spotted in the stands standing like a statue for 90 minutes.
After some complications, it was confirmed that he would be able to watch his nation in action this summer. But who is he?
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Who is the DR Congo superfan who stands like a statue?
Lumumba Vea, real name Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, is the DR Congo’s most famous fan, and first came to prominence in early 2026.
He went viral for standing completely still throughout the 90 minutes while dressed like DR Congo’s first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba.
In DR Congo, Patrice Lumumba is a national hero for helping his nation gain independence from Belgium in 1960 before being assassinated one year later.
How the DR Congo superfan almost missed out on World Cup visit
Donald Trump’s decision to deny visas to fans from certain countries left Mboladinga’s chances of getting to the US in doubt.
However, in order to counteract this, the DR Congo’s leadership did everything they could to get him there, with president Felix Tshisekedi adding him to the country’s delegation, who were given permission to attend the games.
They have paid for his accommodation, travel, tickets and flights to ensure he will be there supporting his beloved nation.
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