Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro was the big winner on an Oscars night rife with celebration for his country.
The director of "The Shape of Water" won the Academy Award for Best Director, and his acclaimed film won four out of the 13 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture. Four out of the last five Oscars for Best Director have been won by Mexican film directors. Alfonso Cuarón won in 2013 for "Gravity" and Alejandro G. Iñárritu won in 2014 for "Birdman" and the following year for "The Revenant."
Following del Toro's triumph at the 90th Academy Awards, a number of Mexican athletes and sports teams rejoiced, offering public congratulations:
Mexico's El Tri was among the first to celebrate del Toro, thanking the director for shining a positive light on the country:
¡Gracias por poner en alto el nombre de México!
Muchas felicidades, @RealGDT. Eres un jefazo. #SoyMéxico | #Oscars pic.twitter.com/qdY9gUxbuU
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) March 5, 2018
Atlas FC, the soccer club del Toro roots for, is nicknamed la Academia, a fact not lost on them when posting on social media:
En esta Academia también reconocemos tu talento. ¡Muchas felicidades, @RealGDT! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/mNaE9Peks0 — Atlas FC (@atlasfc) March 5, 2018
ESPN Mexico later reported that Atlas would extend an invitation to del Toro for its upcoming home game, on March 30th against Santos Laguna. The team has reached out to del Toro, hoping to allow for a public celebration, gifting the the Guadalajara native with a plaque and a special jersey.
Rafael Márquez, a four-time World Cup defender for Mexico and the captain of Atlas, was also quick to send del Toro a message on Twitter:
Muchas felicidades a @RealGDT por estas noche tan inolvidable en los #Oscars2018 y a todos aquellos que nos representaron, orgullo mexicano!! #VivaMexivo
— Rafa Marquez (@RafaMarquezMX) March 5, 2018
The other Guadalajara club, Chivas, one of Mexican soccer's most successful teams with 12 league titles (and Atlas' fiercest rival) called del Toro "a source of pride for Mexico":
Orgullo mexicano¡Felicidades, @RealGDT! Gracias por representarnos con tu gran talento. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/RaI8apVPAq — CHIVAS (@Chivas) March 5, 2018
Other Liga MX clubs tweeted messages at del Toro, including Pachuca:
Ahora sabemos que el agua tiene forma de estatuilla dorada.
Muchas felicidades @RealGDT por el Oscar a mejor director. pic.twitter.com/QLvehkXYj5
— Club Pachuca (@Tuzos) March 5, 2018
Monarcas Morelia said del Toro "filled them with pride":
¡Nos llenas de orgullo, @RealGDT! Una vez más pusiste el nombre de México en alto. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/SX0C8BqlRR
— Monarcas Morelia (@FuerzaMonarca) March 5, 2018
Xolos displayed a stylized animation of the director with their congratulatory tweet:
¡Que orgullo, @RealGDT! ¡Felicidades, #GuillermoDelToro! #AhPerro #PorqueSoyMexicano soymexicano #oscars pic.twitter.com/uDoGiyjjfG
— Xolos (@Xolos) March 5, 2018
Former MLB player and fellow Mexican Jorge Cantú sent out his regards in a message loaded with baseball references, likening del Toro's triumph to a walk-off home run:
Woooow !! Parte baja de la 9va....@RealGDT al bat....lanzamiento....whack !!!...la bola se va, se vaaa y se fueeee !! Los dejo tendidos en el terreno !!! Sus compañeros lo esperan en el home plate para darle su #Oscars !!! Viva Mexico ! #ShapeOfWater #BestPicture2018
— Jorge Cantu (@jorge_cantu3) March 5, 2018
Former top-ranked LPGA golfer Lorena Ochoa thanked del Toro and his family for supporting her career, particularly during its initial stages.
Me siento muy orgullosa y emocionada por el gran @RealGDT , felicidades por su grandioso trabajo como director y sobre todo por llevar el nombre de México a la cima de la pantalla grande. Su familia, fueron de las que me apoyaron en los inicios de mi carrera. pic.twitter.com/VRGBNdmqvg
— Lorena Ochoa Reyes (@LorenaOchoaR) March 5, 2018