The striker strolled through Madrid in a red cap bearing Donald Trump’s slogan, adapted to Spain, hours after scoring the goal that gave La Roja the world title. Cucurella has also come under fire in Argentina over a song.
Ferran Torres scored the goal that secured the 2026 World Cup title against Argentina, in the 106th minute of the final played at the New York/New Jersey stadium. One day later, during the victory parade through the streets of Madrid, the forward appeared bare-chested and wearing a red cap bearing the phrase "Make Spain Great Again", a direct adaptation of Donald Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again".
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Images of Torres greeting fans from the open-top bus, with the cap on, spread quickly on social media. The item is not part of the official MAGA movement brand but an adapted version of the slogan with a reference to Spain. Before the parade, the squad had visited King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Zarzuela Palace, and also the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, at Moncloa.
Mixed interpretations
The gesture prompted very different interpretations among fans and the media. Some took it as a joke with no deeper meaning; others read it as an ironic nod to Trump, or even as a possible dig at Sánchez. It has also been pointed out that the phrase "Make Spain great again" has previously been used by the right-wing party Vox, which fuelled the political readings of the episode.
Torres has not given any public explanation for his choice or said whether there was any specific intention behind the message, so for now the various hypotheses are left open to each person's interpretation.
Sumar accuses Torres of running a vulture fund
The controversy did not revolve only around the cap. Alberto Ibáñez, an MP for Compromís–Sumar, on Tuesday shared incorrect information by claiming that Ferran Torres's company was acting as a "vulture fund" and had bought "20 homes in Valencia" to speculate. However, as reported by 'El Español' (source in Spanish) and confirmed to the outlet by the player's camp, that assertion does not match reality.
Sources close to the player explain that the main real-estate asset of Eleven Future Invest, the Spain No 7's company, is a commercial-use block next to Mestalla, made up of 50 offices rented out to businesses, and not a portfolio of homes intended for speculation.
As for his residential holdings, Ferran Torres owns four homes: his residence in Barcelona, two properties in Valencia and another house in the town where he spends his holidays. He also owns a plot of land on which he plans to build in the future.
The controversy stemmed from information published by 'Forbes', which stated that the forward has "20 properties strategically distributed between the Valencia region and Catalonia".
On the back of that reference, Ibáñez sharpened his criticism and called for legal reform to prevent "companies and vulture funds such as Eleven Future Invest, Ferran Torres's company which, according to 'Forbes', already hoards 20 homes in Valencia, from buying houses to speculate".
Cucurella also in hot water with Argentina
The defender, a new signing for Real Madrid, was one of the liveliest during the celebrations in Madrid. After the official receptions at the Zarzuela Palace and at Moncloa, the celebration moved to Plaza de Cibeles. There, each player came onto the stage accompanied by a song of his own choosing, and Marc once again chose 'Malbec', the track by Duki and Bizarrap that he had already used during the Euro 2024 celebrations.
The gesture did not go unnoticed in Argentina for two reasons. The artists behind the song are both Argentine (Duki and Bizarrap) and the verses: "Llegué a la ciudad y me reciben como si fuera un boss. Cada vez más pegao y ni yo sé cómo pasó. Hoy festejamos y mi equipo salió campeón. Adentro del party, afuera en la calle, se escucha mi voz", did not help either...
Some fans and certain media interpreted the choice of song as a provocation towards the Albiceleste after the outcome of the tournament. The outlet 'TyC Sports', for instance, went so far as to describe it as a "taunt" aimed at the Argentina national team.