Alejandro Sanz is not Mexican but he has just discovered the country’s best singer on the “La Voz de Mexico” television contest, which broke nationwide viewership records.

Oscar Cruz, a 44-year-old man from the central state of Puebla, will leave his job as a school custodian and will have the opportunity to become a musical performer, given that one of the prizes in the contest - in which he won first place - is recording an album.

“My participation in the program has left me with a much deeper knowledge and love for this country than I had. I’m leaving a lot of my heart here,” said Sanz, who has lived in Mexico for the past two months during the contest and on Sunday celebrated his 43rd birthday.