Marc Cucurella pulled up his sleeve on Tuesday to reveal Luis de la Fuente’s face, in a suit and gripping the World Cup, permanently inked on his elbow.
His caption on Instagram was two words in Spanish: “Promesa cumplida”, promise fulfilled.
The pledge had been made before the tournament kicked off. If Spain lifted the trophy, the coach’s portrait would go on his skin.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium on 19 July, with Ferran Torres striking in the 106th minute. Nine days later, Cucurella made good on the promise.
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The work was done by Joaquín Ganga, a Spanish artist whose client list runs from LeBron James and Drake to Canelo Álvarez and Carlos Alcaraz.
The design shows De la Fuente in a jacket, both hands on the trophy, with the 2026 tournament crest behind him.
De la Fuente: ‘I don’t look that scary’
De la Fuente was asked about the pledge in his post-final press conference in East Rutherford.
“If you make a promise, you have to keep it. Besides, I don’t look that scary,” he told reporters, in comments carried by UNN.
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From Chelsea to Real Madrid to the tattoo chair
Cucurella arrived at the World Cup as a Real Madrid player.
The 28-year-old left-back completed a £52m move from Chelsea in mid-June, roughly a fortnight before flying to North America with the Spain squad. His farewell video to Chelsea supporters went out the day before the tattoo was revealed.
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