World Cup champion, Spanish star pulls off a shocking move that leaves the entire nation stunned

Winning the 2026 World Cup did more than just bring honor to Spain; it also allowed Marc Cucurella to keep a special commitment. The Real Madrid player had a tattoo of Luis de la Fuente's face inked next to the World Cup trophy as a sign of gratitude to his coach.

The 2026 World Cup championship not only brought joy to Spanish football but also marked the completion of a particular promise by Marc Cucurella. The left-back, who had just completed his transfer to Real Madrid, decided to follow through on a pledge he made before the tournament, as a way to thank the person who greatly influenced La Roja's success.

Throughout the journey to claim the golden cup, coach Luis de la Fuente was regarded as the architect who restored Spain to the world's top position. Cucurella once declared that he would get a tattoo of the Spanish head coach's portrait if the team won the championship, and after the victory over Argentina in the final, he officially turned his words into action. The gift this defender gave to his coach quickly caused a stir in Spanish public opinion.

The 28-year-old player got a tattoo of Luis de la Fuente's portrait on the inside of his arm, next to an image of the World Cup trophy. He revealed the design on Instagram on Tuesday, along with a photo documenting the tattooing process. Cucurella also shared a short but emotional message: "The promise has been kept." The tattoo quickly attracted huge attention from fans and was seen as a symbol of the special bond between the player and the 65-year-old strategist.

This moment became even more memorable as Cucurella had just completed his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid for £51.8 million during the World Cup. After five years playing abroad, the Spanish defender returned to La Liga. Before arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2023, he had played for Brighton & Hove Albion after leaving Getafe in 2021.

A 1-0 victory over Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford helped Spain win the World Cup for the second time in history. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time after 90 minutes of a tight contest, with the match frequently interrupted by fouls and Argentina's time-wasting tactics.

De la Fuente's team also finished the tournament with an impressive defensive record, conceding only one goal — Charles De Ketelaere's equalizer in the quarterfinal against Belgium at SoFi Stadium, after Fabian Ruiz had opened the scoring. Therefore, the promise Cucurella kept was not just a personal gesture but also his way of marking a historic World Cup for Spanish football.