Cucurella Inks Luis de la Fuente Image After Spain's 1-0 World Cup Final Win

Following Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina, Marc Cucurella revealed a tattoo of coach Luis de la Fuente above his left elbow.

Spain secured the World Cup title with a 1-0 victory against Argentina in extra-time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026. Marc Cucurella, who started in all eight of Spain's tournament fixtures, celebrated the championship by getting a tattoo of head coach Luis de la Fuente just above his left elbow. The 27-year-old left-back unveiled the permanent ink on Instagram on July 28, exactly nine days after the final whistle in North America. The artwork depicts De la Fuente holding the World Cup trophy and features the number 26 to mark the year of the triumph.

World Cup Promise Fulfilled

The new Real Madrid signing made a public vow during the early stages of the competition to immortalize his manager in ink should the national team lift the trophy. Upon sharing the image of the tattoo, Cucurella included the caption: "A promise kept." This act of commitment follows a previous pledge the defender made during the 2024 European Championship. After Spain won that tournament, the former Chelsea player dyed his long curly hair red to satisfy a similar guarantee made to his teammates and supporters.

Transfer to Real Madrid

Cucurella’s participation in the World Cup coincided with a significant shift in his club career. The defender recently finalized a contract with Real Madrid, effectively ending a four-year tenure at Chelsea. His perfect attendance in the Spanish starting lineup throughout the eight-game World Cup run served as his final act before transitioning to the Spanish giants. The left-back's consistency on the pitch was a primary factor in Spain's defensive stability during their successful pursuit of the global title.

De la Fuente Responds to Tribute

Luis de la Fuente reacted to the gesture with humor and a sense of pride following the final victory. The coach joked about the players' decision-making, asking if they had made a mistake in choosing his likeness for their bodies. He remarked that while he is not "terribly ugly," he was amused that the tattoo was placed in a visible location rather than somewhere hidden. De la Fuente expressed that the tribute made him laugh and noted his satisfaction that his players are individuals who honor their words.

Tournament Statistics and Location

The championship match took place at the MetLife Stadium, serving as the climax of the tournament hosted across North America. Spain’s path to the trophy required eight matches, with Cucurella featuring in every starting eleven. The 1-0 scoreline against Argentina was decided in the extra-time period, ensuring Spain's status as world champions for the year 2026. This victory marks the second major international trophy for this group of players in a two-year span, following their European success in 2024.