Spain's 2026 FIFA World Cup-winning goal scorer, Ferran Torres, has publicly doubled down on his decision to wear a "Make Spain Great Again" hat during his team's victory parade, posting new photos that prominently feature the controversial headwear. The move comes after swift criticism from left-wing politicians and media outlets in Spain.
Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time against Argentina, securing Spain's second World Cup title. Following the match, he stated that the victory was a result of the support from the Spanish people, saying, "Today destiny was written, it was made for us to win."
During the team's homecoming parade in Madrid, Torres was photographed wearing the red hat, an apparent reference to former U.S. President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. The hat immediately drew sharp criticism. The deputy spokesman for Spain's left-wing "Sumar" group accused Torres of political provocation, and the progressive outlet El Plural described the hat as a "clear ideological message, provoking a multitude of criticism" on social media.
Torres responded to the backlash by posting several photos from the parade on the social platform X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday evening. The caption accompanying the images read, "Somos los reyessssss! Vaya locura!," which roughly translates to "We are the kings! It's absolutely crazy!" The photos continue to showcase the hat.
It remains unclear whether Torres intended the hat as a specific political statement supporting right-wing causes in Spain, a jab at Trump, or a lighthearted acknowledgment of Trump presenting the trophy to the team. However, many left-leaning commentators and politicians interpreted it as a statement of support for reforming the country, which is currently led by a socialist government. A June YouGov poll indicated that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had a 33% approval rating.
Torres, a Barcelona player, has not issued an apology for wearing the hat despite the criticism. The final match was presented by President Donald Trump, who awarded the trophy to the Spanish team.
