SerpApi.Org
A day after La Roja’s second world title, sealed against Argentina (1-0 a.e.t.), Ferran Torres has found himself targeted by Spain’s left, while right-wing parties are turning him into their new standard-bearer. The reason? The cap worn by the final’s only scorer during the title celebrations in Madrid... an echo that reaches all the way to Washington.
Electoral propaganda or a simple ironic wink? Without saying a word, Ferran Torres needed only a cap to unleash a political cyclone around him in Spain. On Monday, throughout the La Roja title celebrations in the streets of Madrid, the 26-year-old forward, scorer of the only goal in the final won against Argentina (1-0 a.e.t.), appeared wearing a red headpiece emblazoned with the national flag and four words: “Make Spain Great Again” (“Restore Spain’s greatness”).
The problem? Beyond being a clear reference to the campaign slogan of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has made a habit of wearing a red “Make America Great Again” cap at his rallies, the phrase had already been reused in Spain in recent years by Santiago Abascal, leader of the conservative Vox party, classified as far-right.
Lawmakers move to capitalize
In an immediate reaction, lawmaker Alberto Ibanez of the left-wing Sumar coalition took aim on Tuesday at Ferran Torres, whom he accuses, through his company Eleven Future Invest, of acting as a “vulture fund” that acquired “20 housing units in Valencia” to speculate, even as part of the country—including the Valencian Community, where the Spanish forward is from—faces a major housing crisis.
Several sources close to the player, however, told local media that the accusation is unfounded, since it refers to the purchase of an office-use building made up of around fifty offices rented to companies, and not a residential property portfolio.
At the same time, Vox wasted no time using the image of the hero of Spain’s second world title and elevating him as a patriotic symbol. “Jealousy has always been the fuel of the mediocre. While some devote themselves to criticizing, Ferran Torres answers where it matters: on the field,” said lawmaker Carina Mejias, among others.
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The White House seizes the opportunity
While some internet users are also convinced that Ferran Torres is using his media exposure to deliver some political message, others believe, on the contrary, that the Barça forward simply parodied Donald Trump’s cap to mock the President of the United States. The latter had taken a prominent role during the trophy presentation to the Spaniards the day before at MetLife Stadium... even joining the class photo on the podium.
No matter: the official White House account commented on X on a video of Ferran Torres overlooking the Madrid crowd with his cap of discord: “Everyone wants to be part of the movement,” Washington rejoices. A devout Catholic (“God gives to those who deserve it,” he had proclaimed into FIFA’s microphone after his goal in the final) and close to the extravagant Marcos Llorente, Ferran Torres has nevertheless never openly spoken out in favor of Spain’s right.
The center-forward, courted by PSG, had, however, publicly blasted Pedro Sanchez’s socialist government after the devastating floods that caused 237 deaths in the province of Valencia in October 2024. “We need change in this country! I don’t even have the strength to go to the stadium to watch my teammates play. Frustration and indignation toward our leaders, whoever they may be. (...) The state is bankrupt. The people save the people,” the former Valencia CF winger wrote on Instagram. Two years later, the man of the people is him.
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