In summer, a passer-by found Mathieu working and the image went viral, attracting many people who only went to the store to take photographs with the Frenchman to immortalise the moment. This unwanted attention proved difficult for the former player, who was simply trying to rebuild his life away from the spotlight. People from his circle, on social networks, asked for respect for the privacy of the former Sporting Portugal player, the club where he retired, so that they would let him work in peace.
Despite his efforts to remain low-profile, the fame associated with his successful years in La Liga made it difficult to maintain a quiet existence on the shop floor. Mathieu’s representatives and friends have had to remind the public that behind the famous face is a man trying to navigate a complex post-career path. The shop became an unexpected tourist spot for football fans, complicating what was intended to be a simple, therapeutic return to a regular social environment.