Mexico City — Balam, a content creator and Maya culture ambassador known on social media as “El último maya,” has donated a traditional Maya ball to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
The ball, used in the ancient Mesoamerican ballgame, was made of solid rubber weighing between 3 and 4 kilograms, crafted from latex of the Castilla elastica tree. It symbolized the sun and players struck it with their hips and elbows.
With the help of a follower, Balam traveled from Tulum, Quintana Roo, to the capital to deliver the ceremonial object. The ball had been in his family for 35 years and will now be registered with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) as part of the nation’s heritage.
During his visit, Balam toured the museum, accessed restricted areas, and demonstrated the ancient ballgame accompanied by a pre-Hispanic whistle. He also visited landmarks such as the Angel of Independence and the Caballito statue, and supported the Mexican national team in their Round of 16 match against England in the 2026 World Cup.
“I want to thank everyone at the National Museum of Anthropology for being so kind to me and for letting me explore the heritage our ancestors left us,” Balam wrote on social media.
Balam, whose name means “jaguar,” is a mixed-race Maya from Xmatkuil, Yucatán. He creates content to promote Maya worldview and traditions, often wearing traditional warrior attire including a padded cloak, leather sandals, necklaces, and skin tattoos. He speaks Maya, Spanish, English, and French, learned through daily contact with tourists as a guide in cenotes and archaeological sites in Tulum.
