Marc Cucurella will begin his Real Madrid career carrying a permanent reminder of the coach who made him a European and world champion. The defender has unveiled a tattoo showing Luis de la Fuente holding the World Cup trophy, with the tournament emblem placed behind the Spain manager.
The design was completed little more than a week after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time. Cucurella had promised before the tournament that he would have De la Fuente’s face tattooed on his body if Spain became world champions.
He has now fulfilled that part of the bargain. The more serious promise, however, remains unresolved.
The tattoo that will follow him to Madrid
According to FIFA’s official account of the tattoo, Cucurella had insisted after the final that the design needed to be placed somewhere visible. He later revealed the finished work on his left arm with the brief message: “Promise fulfilled.”
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The tattoo is more elaborate than the small portrait initially discussed during the World Cup. It shows De la Fuente in a suit, holding the trophy that Spain lifted in New Jersey, while the tournament logo completes the background.
As described by EFE in its report from Madrid, the work was completed by Joaquín Ganga, a Spanish tattoo artist whose previous clients include LeBron James and Carlos Alcaraz. Influencer Ceciarmy was also present when the design was created.
De la Fuente had publicly encouraged Cucurella to honour the agreement. The coach joked that he was not so unattractive that the defender needed to hide the portrait somewhere nobody could see it.
The promise Spain hope he forgets
Before the final, Cucurella made another statement that carried far greater sporting consequences. He said winning both the European Championship and the World Cup would leave him with nothing more to achieve for Spain.
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Quoted by L’Équipe in its original report on the retirement claim, Cucurella said he would telephone De la Fuente after the final and ask the manager not to select him again. “With a European Championship and a World Cup, I can’t do any better,” he said.
Spain subsequently won the final, but no official international retirement announcement had followed by July 29. Reports in Spain have suggested that supporters and people around the national team want the 28-year-old to treat the remark as a joke rather than a binding commitment.
As described by Diario AS after the victory, the public reaction was very different from the response to the tattoo. Spanish fans wanted him to visit the tattoo studio, but not to walk away from the national team.
England saw him keep his first promise
Cucurella had already established a reputation for following through on unusual celebrations. Before the Euro 2024 final against England, he promised to dye his distinctive hair red if Spain won the tournament.
Spain defeated England 2-1, with Cucurella providing the cross for Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winning goal. He subsequently appeared with bright red curls and wrote that a promise was a promise.
According to beIN Sports’ contemporary report on the transformation, the change of colour came only days after Spain lifted the trophy in Berlin. Unlike the new tattoo, the hair eventually returned to its natural colour.
English supporters therefore witnessed the beginning of Cucurella’s habit of linking international trophies to increasingly unusual personal challenges. The red hair celebrated victory over England, while De la Fuente’s portrait commemorates the greatest title of his career.
Chelsea turned him into a world champion
Cucurella completed the tattoo shortly after formally saying goodbye to Chelsea. He joined the London club from Brighton in 2022 and initially struggled to justify the size of his transfer fee.
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His status changed dramatically during the following four seasons. He became a regular for Spain, won Euro 2024, lifted the Conference League and later became a Club World Cup winner with Chelsea.
According to Chelsea’s official confirmation of his departure, the defender left permanently for Real Madrid after four seasons at Stamford Bridge. The club thanked him for his contribution to its recent successes and wished him well in Spain.
Real Madrid subsequently confirmed that his contract runs until June 2032. Cucurella therefore arrives at the Bernabéu as a world champion, with his national coach permanently marked on his arm and an international future that remains unclear.
One promise too many
The tattoo required several hours and a willingness to accept a permanent reminder of one extraordinary summer. Retiring from international football at 28 would require a much greater sacrifice.
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Cucurella has won the two biggest international prizes available to a European player. He has also played every minute of a successful World Cup campaign and remains De la Fuente’s established first-choice left-back.
Spain will hope that his reputation as a man of his word has limits. The portrait can remain, but the retirement promise is one commitment that almost nobody wants him to keep.
