Spain's recent World Cup triumph has been linked to a pre-match ritual performed by player Marc Cucurella, who was observed burying a coin on the pitch moments before kickoff. This act is said to replicate a tradition carried out by Joan Capdevila, a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad.
Capdevila revealed on social media platform X that he had instructed Cucurella to perform the ritual. According to Capdevila, he himself buried a coin in the grass before Spain's 2010 final match, which helped secure their victory. A video shared by Capdevila appears to show Cucurella discreetly removing a coin from his sock and placing it into the turf during the warm-up for the recent final, checking to ensure he was not observed.
Cucurella, who recently moved from Chelsea to Real Madrid for a reported £60 million, was a prominent player throughout Spain's World Cup campaign. He had previously suggested he might get a tattoo of his manager's face if the team won the tournament, though he had not yet decided on the placement or design.
In a separate incident during the match, Cucurella was involved in a moment with Lionel Messi. After Argentina was reduced to 10 men due to Enzo Fernandez receiving a second yellow card, Messi appeared to alert the referee to Cucurella's actions, potentially in an attempt to have him sanctioned under new FIFA rules prohibiting players from covering their mouths during disputes. However, the referee and VAR dismissed Messi's protests, deeming that Cucurella was not speaking in anger.
Capdevila's involvement in the tournament extended beyond advising Cucurella. He had previously publicly sought assistance from Donald Trump and U.S. authorities to secure an ESTA visa, which had been denied. Capdevila believed his ESTA denial stemmed from a 2016 match he played in Iran, as individuals who have traveled to Iran since March 1, 2011, are generally required to obtain a visa rather than using the visa waiver program. Despite the initial travel complications, Capdevila was eventually able to attend the final with his children and witness Spain's victory. Spain secured their World Cup title with a 1-0 win over Argentina in extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal.