Spain's World Cup hero Ferran Torres has clarified that his decision to wear a red "Make Spain Great Again" cap during his team's homecoming parade was not a political statement.
"It was not about politics because honestly, I don’t know about politics," Torres, 26, told CNN's Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins. "It was just to be able to see Spain on the top, winning the World Cup. It was just to have fun with my friends, with my family and nothing about politics."
Torres, who scored the decisive goal in Spain's World Cup final victory, was seen wearing the cap on an open-top bus during celebrations in Madrid. The hat, a variation of former President Donald Trump's signature "Make America Great Again" slogan, drew attention.
Trump commented on Torres's attire after the event, telling reporters, "He is a great player. He was wearing essentially a ‘Make America Great Again’ cap, so it was a nice tribute. And I think he meant that very nicely, we appreciate it." The White House also made a lighthearted remark about the "MAGA movement" gaining international traction after images from the parade went viral.
Torres made these remarks to CNN on Monday night, reflecting on the victory parade held on July 20. Earlier that day, he had also spoken to NBC's "Today" show, mentioning he had rewatched his World Cup-winning goal approximately a thousand times.