Ferran Torres stands firm after backlash, shares photo sporting 'Make Spain Great Again' hat

Spain Wins 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has concluded, marking a historic moment as Spain triumphed over Argentina in extra time, securing their second title. This tournament was notably successful for FIFA and highlighted a strong defensive strategy from the Spanish national team, which allowed only one goal throughout the competition. They faced tough opponents, including Belgium, France, and Argentina—home to legendary goal-scorer Lionel Messi. Yet, it wasn’t just the defense that captured attention; Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal, became a standout.

After the match, Torres expressed his feelings about the victory, emphasizing the role of the Spanish fans in their success. “I think in the end it was a goal of 47 million people,” he shared, referring to the population of Spain. “We are not the only ones here. Today our destiny was written, and we were made to win… we have tried to be as close to them as possible.”

Controversial Hat at Victory Parade

During the victory parade, Torres was seen wearing a red hat that read “Make Spain Great Again,” reminiscent of former President Donald Trump’s famous slogan. This choice sparked immediate backlash from left-wing commentators and politicians. For instance, a deputy spokesperson from the Spanish left-wing group Smar accused Torres of promoting real estate speculation, while the outlet El Plural stated that the hat was a blatant ideological statement and generated a wave of criticism online.

Despite this, Torres appeared unfazed. He later posted images from the parade on X, captioning it with “Somos los reyessssss! Vaya locura!” which translates to “We are kings! Absolutely crazy!”

The implications of wearing the hat remain unclear—it could have been a playful jab towards Trump’s political stance, or merely a light-hearted homage since Trump awarded the national team with their trophy. Meanwhile, left-wing figures interpreted it as an endorsement of reforms in Spain under Pedro Sánchez’s socialist government, which currently has low approval ratings according to a recent poll.