Sixteen-year-old Alberto comes from a family of soccer fanatics and coaches. The athletic teen also plays soccer for his high school. When it came time to choose his one true wish, Alberto decided to attend the pinnacle event of the international soccer world – the 2002 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup Final. Played every four years, the FIFA World Cup tournament brings together the world's strongest national teams to play for the title of world champion. The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Louisiana worked with UAW-GM, who sponsored the wish, and MasterCard, who provided game tickets, to create the exhilarating experience.

Prior to attending the final match, Alberto's family celebrated at a "bon voyage blowout"

at Trapp Chevrolet in Houma, La. While there, well-wishers and supporters debated whether any of the high school sophomore's favorite teams – Paraguay, Argentina and the United States – had the skill and luck to make it to the famous final game. Even though Alberto's family can trace its lineage to Paraguay, they pledged to paint their bodies red, white and blue if Team USA was one of the final two teams left standing. Eventually, all three teams lost in the single-elimination tournament. So Alberto hopped on the Brazil bandwagon to root for Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Dida as they defeated Germany in a hard-fought final.

For the final game, Alberto wore a green wig and the rest of his family painted their faces green and yellow to support the spirited and skilled Brazil squad. Throughout the match, the young soccer fan really got a chance to cheer as the Brazilians blanked the Germans, 2-0. The victory marked the country's fifth time claiming the World Cup trophy.

In a letter to UAW-GM, the teen expressed his appreciation. He wrote, "Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to experience such a wonderful event. Our family is really 'the soccer family,' and being able to go to the World Cup is a dream I am very fortunate in being able to live. Your sponsorship to make my wish possible means a lot to us. This is truly a blessing. You cannot even begin to imagine my gratitude."

Looking to the future, Alberto – like his father – would like to study oncology at Yale University.