Ferran Torres Mocks Donald Trump During Spain’s Victory Parade

Spain’s World Cup final hero Ferran Torres took a sharp swipe at United States President Donald Trump during his country’s title celebrations in Madrid. The Barcelona forward, who netted the decisive goal in the final, turned heads during the victory parade by donning a red baseball cap inscribed with the slogan “Make Spain Great Again”.

The headwear served as an unmistakable parody of Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” slogan, which underpinned his successful presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2024. Torres’s subtle yet pointed gesture came on the heels of mounting scrutiny surrounding Trump’s omnipresence throughout the tournament, culminating in an awkward medal ceremony where the American president raised eyebrows by refusing to step aside as the Spanish squad lifted the trophy.

The tension between the players and the American political figure had been brewing well before the final whistle. Trump played a pivotal role in bringing the World Cup to North American soil, having led the joint 2026 hosting bid back in 2017. His involvement with world football’s governing body deepened when FIFA awarded him its inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, a decision that drew intense condemnation from football fans and sporting officials worldwide.

Controversy deepened earlier in the tournament over allegations of political interference. Reports surfaced that Trump exerted considerable pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to lift a suspension on American forward Folarin Balogun ahead of the United States’ round-of-16 clash against Belgium. Critics argued that Trump used financial and political leverage to secure an unfair advantage for the host nation. Despite Balogun being cleared to play, the United States failed to progress, leaving many observers to condemn the ordeal as a breach of sporting ethics and fair play.

Upon returning to Madrid to celebrate their World Cup triumph, the Spanish squad received a hero’s welcome from hundreds of thousands of supporters lining the streets. Yet, amongst the confetti and celebrations, Torres ensured the political overtones of the tournament did not go unnoticed, delivering a cheeky parting shot to the 45th and 47th US president.