Key facts
- Ferran Torres wore a 'Make Spain Great Again' cap during a World Cup victory parade.
- The slogan is an adaptation of Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again'.
- The gesture led to varied interpretations, including political readings.
- An MP incorrectly accused Torres's company of operating as a 'vulture fund' and speculating on housing.
- Sources close to Torres denied these claims, stating his property assets are primarily commercial offices.
- Defender Marc Cucurella also faced criticism for his song choice during the celebrations.
Spanish footballer Ferran Torres has ignited controversy following his appearance at a World Cup victory parade in Madrid, where he wore a red cap bearing the slogan 'Make Spain Great Again'. The phrase is a direct adaptation of U.S. President Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again' campaign slogan.
Torres, who scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute of the World Cup final against Argentina, was seen waving to fans from an open-top bus while wearing the cap. Images of the gesture quickly circulated on social media, prompting a wide range of reactions.
Interpretations of Torres's gesture varied significantly. Some viewed it as a lighthearted joke, while others saw it as an ironic reference to Trump or a potential political statement directed at Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The slogan's previous use by the right-wing political party Vox further fueled political readings of the incident.
Adding to the controversy, Alberto Ibáñez, a Member of Parliament for Compromís–Sumar, publicly claimed that Torres's company, Eleven Future Invest, was operating as a 'vulture fund' and had acquired '20 homes in Valencia' for speculative purposes. However, sources close to the footballer have refuted these claims, stating that the company's main property asset is a commercial building with offices rented to businesses, not a portfolio of residential properties for speculation. His residential assets reportedly include four homes and a plot of land.
Separately, defender Marc Cucurella also faced criticism in Argentina for his choice of song during the celebrations, with some interpreting it as a provocation towards the national team after the World Cup final.