Manuel Real, known as “Realito,” was declared the winner of the Becerradas Grand Final in Lucena, Córdoba, on Sept. 7 after judges awarded the teenager two ears and a tail — honours reserved for top performances in the amateur circuit of Spain’s bullfighting tradition.
The six finalists, selected from a field of 30 competitors on the Circuit of the Becerredas, represent the region’s bullfighting schools and competed before a full house in the Andalucian ring. Organisers and fans hailed Real’s performance, while animal welfare campaigners and recent injuries in Iberian bullrings underscored persistent controversy surrounding the sport.
Event organisers said the final, part of the Becerradas circuit that features novice fighters known as becerristas, is intended as a training ground where teenagers fight younger bulls or calves to hone skills before advancing to novilladas and, if successful, the professional alternativa. Judges score performances on artistry, danger, technique and the cleanliness of the kill; the crowd’s reaction is also factored into decisions such as the awarding of ears or tails.
Local media and supporters described Real’s display as daring. He earned 47 points from the judging panel and was carried out of the ring on spectators’ shoulders, a ceremonial gesture reserved for celebrated winners. The runner-up positions were filled by Pablo Sánchez of the Almería bullfighting school, who received one ear and 34.5 points, and Rojeli Pajuelo of Ubrique with 33 points, organisers said.
Becerradas are contested by fighters typically aged 16 to 18, and participants often come from families with bullfighting backgrounds and train at regional escuelas taurinas. In Andalucia there are 31 such schools, officials said, with roughly 400 students enrolled across the region. Training covers posture, cape technique, physical conditioning and the historical and cultural elements of the practice, as well as how to respond to public criticism.
Supporters at the Lucena event and some local leaders framed the competitions as a cultural tradition and an economic contributor. Aurelio García, mayor of Lucena, told attendees the town would host the event again next year. Older fans quoted by local outlets said the circuit sustains jobs and preserves a livestock breed that supporters say exists primarily because of bullfighting demand.
But animal welfare groups and a portion of the public dispute the practice’s cultural or economic justification. PACMA, Spain’s principal animal rights party, has called becerradas “the ultimate cruelty,” arguing the events involve calves and juveniles and that the inexperience of fighters can lead to slower deaths. Javier Sanabria, PACMA’s national secretary, said in comments reported by news outlets that the practice indoctrinates children, relies on subsidies and persists because of political protection.
The sport’s defenders and critics point to broader political and social trends. A Sigma Dos poll for El Mundo cited in reports found 78% of Spaniards are not fans of bullfighting, while 48% supported removing its protected cultural-heritage status. Support for the practice is higher among some right-wing voters, with party-specific figures cited by media showing more backing among members of Vox and the conservative Partido Popular than in the general population.
Financial incentives remain a driver for some young fighters. Novilleros and established matadors can be paid for performances; early-career fees are commonly reported in the range of €1,000 to €3,000 per fight, rising for successful fighters and reaching far higher sums for internationally known names. Top-tier figures cited by promoters and media reports include fees into the tens of thousands and, for a handful of stars, as much as €400,000 for major events.
The Becerradas final in Lucena proceeded amid renewed attention to the physical risks. This month, a 22-year-old forcado, Manuel Maria Trindade, died after being gored during his debut in Lisbon’s Campo Pequeno. Separately, footage from a competition in Villaseca de la Sagra showed Joao D’Alva struck and subsequently requiring surgery after an incident in the ring. Organisers say safety measures and support personnel are present, but critics point to fatalities and serious injuries as evidence of the sport’s inherent danger.
Descriptions of how becerradas unfold were detailed by organisers and witnesses: a calf is released and initially worked by assistants and banderilleros to test and tire it, after which the apprentice matador carries out the faena — the final sequence in which the fighter demonstrates technique and attempts to deliver the killing thrust. Judges and the public assess the performance; if deemed exceptional, the spectator reaction and president of the bullring may approve the awarding of trophies such as ears or tails.
If a bull displays extraordinary traits, a rare pardon, or indulto, can be granted, sparing the animal and allowing it to return to the ranch as a breeder. Such pardons are unusual and are considered a high honour in the tradition.
The pathway from becerrista to professional matador is narrow: commentators and academy instructors estimate that only a small percentage of students ultimately reach full professional status. Fighters who progress typically compete in novilladas — where they confront older bulls and are expected to kill — and, if successful over several seasons, may receive the alternativa that formalises a professional career.
Regulation and public funding remain contentious. Critics say public subsidies sustain ranches, bullrings and related businesses, enabling the continuance of events. Supporters argue community identity, tourism and historical continuity justify municipal and regional backing. In recent years Spain has seen legal and administrative shifts: one national bullfighting award was abolished last year, cited by authorities as reflecting changes in social opinion and animal-welfare concerns.
The Lucena final illustrated both the continuing appeal and the controversies surrounding bullfighting: a packed arena, social-media interest around rising fighters, and local officials pledging to continue the event next year, set against vocal opposition from welfare campaigners, poll data showing waning public support, and instances of serious injury and death in Iberian arenas. As aspiring fighters work through academies and regional circuits, the debate over whether those pathways should remain open to teenagers and whether the practice should retain public recognition shows no signs of abating.