It was the culmination of a remarkable defensive performance from the Spanish national team, a run where they allowed just one goal throughout the tournament.Despite facing Belgium, arguably the most talented roster in the world, France, and Argentina with one of the best goal scorers in history, Lionel Messi.
But it wasn't one of their defenders that grabbed headlines afterward, it was the Cup-winning goal scorer Ferran Torres.Torres after the match said that he felt the goal was the result of support from the Spanish population.SPAIN BEATS ARGENTINA TO WIN 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP BEHIND FERRAN TORRES' EXTRA-TIME GOAL"I think in the end the goal came from 47 million people [the estimated Spain population], not just those of us that are here," Torres said to FIFA broadcasters after the win, per ESPN."Today destiny was written, it was made for us to win.
We’re far from our people today but we tried to be as close as possible to them."Ferran Torres of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.(Michael Regan/FIFA)Then, during the parade, he was photographed wearing a red "Make Spain Great Again" hat, in an apparent reference to President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.
Criticism from the political left was, predictably, swift and intense.The deputy spokesman for the left-wing "Sumar" group in Spain immediately accused Torres of speculating in real estate, as just one example.The progressive media outlet El Plural said his hat was a "clear ideological message, provoking a multitude of criticism" on social media.FERRAN TORRES SPORTS 'MAKE SPAIN GREAT AGAIN' HAT SIMILAR TO TRUMP'S SLOGAN AT WORLD CUP HOMECOMING PARADEWell, Torres either didn't hear the criticism or didn't care, because in a new post on X from Tuesday evening, he posted several photos from the parade, prominently featuring the hat.The caption, "Somos los reyessssss! V...