Spanish soccer player Ferran Torres, a key figure in his nation's World Cup victory, has stirred political debate by wearing a hat bearing the slogan “Make Spain Great Again” during a celebratory parade in Madrid. The headwear resembled the “Make America Great Again” hats popularized by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Torres, who scored the winning goal in the World Cup final, shared images of himself wearing the red cap on social media during the team's festivities on Monday. The photos quickly went viral, prompting varied interpretations of his intentions.
Some observers suggested Torres's hat was a nod to Trump, an idea amplified when the Trump White House shared a news clip of Torres with the caption, “Everyone wants in on the movement.”
Conversely, other commentators posited that the hat might have been intended as satire. This interpretation gained traction given Trump's past predictions of an Argentina victory in the World Cup and his prior criticisms of Spain's government. Trump also became a subject of online discussion during the final match itself.
As of the time of reporting, Torres had not publicly explained his reasons for wearing the hat. Representatives for the Royal Spanish Football Federation and Torres did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.