Real Madrid's left-back, Marc Cucurella, has kept his promise made during the 2026 World Cup training camp. The footballer vowed that if Spain won the world championship, he would get a tattoo of coach Luis de la Fuente's face. And he has done just that. Through his social media, the defender shared the final result of a design that is already a part of Spanish football history.
The news has spread like wildfire among fans, as the tattoo not only depicts De la Fuente, but also includes the World Cup trophy and the tournament's official logo. The work was done by Ganga, one of the most renowned tattoo artists in the world, who has left his mark on stars like LeBron James, Carlos Alcaraz, and Drake. Cucurella himself wrote on Instagram: "Promises are kept," accompanying a picture with the artist and influencer Ceciarmy, who documented the entire process.
The tattoo design and the artist
The sketch, revealed by Ceciarmy hours earlier, shows Luis de la Fuente holding the World Cup trophy against the backdrop of the USA, Mexico, and Canada 2026 logo. The tattoo is located on the back of his left arm, above the elbow, a visible area that Cucurella himself had joked would be "tiny." However, the result is a large and detailed tribute that reflects the coach's emotion upon lifting the cup.
Ganga, the tattoo artist from Murcia, has previously worked with sports and music figures such as LeBron James, Drake, and Canelo Álvarez. His skill in creating realistic portraits made him Cucurella's choice to immortalize De la Fuente. The footballer himself has admitted that he spared no expense to have one of the best in the world tattooed.
The promises of other players
Cucurella wasn't the only one to make a promise. Álex Baena also promised to get a tattoo of Luis de la Fuente , although it's not yet known if he's done so. Other contestants opted for makeovers: Ferran Torres promised to shave his head, Gavi to dye his hair pink, Pedri to go platinum blonde, and Lamine Yamal to grow a beard and mustache for three weeks. However, the hero of the final, Ferran Torres, confessed with a laugh that he doesn't intend to keep his promise, even though Princess Leonor asked him directly about it at the reception at the Royal Palace.
David Raya will also get a tattoo, but has clarified that it will not include the national team coach's face. Mikel Oyarzabal, for his part, promised to become a member of Athletic Club , a declaration that caused a stir due to the rivalry with his team, Real Sociedad. The president of the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation), Rafael Louzán, pledged to complete the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) from Sarria, a distance of approximately 114 kilometers.
A new challenge for 2030
The story doesn't end there. Influencer Ceciarmy has launched a new challenge: if Spain wins the 2030 World Cup, Cucurella will fulfill the promise of the most-liked comment on one of X's posts. The video has already racked up tens of thousands of views and generated a wave of reactions among followers. The full-back, currently on vacation, has proven he's a man of his word and doesn't hesitate to take on new challenges.
Luis de la Fuente's reaction was swift. After the final, the national team coach joked that Cucurella "made a mistake" but that he was proud they kept their word. The Riojan coach has been immortalized on the skin of one of his players as a memento of a historic World Cup for Spain, their second ever after South Africa 2010.
With this gesture, Marc Cucurella becomes the first Spanish international to fulfill his promise regarding the 2026 World Cup. The full-back, a key player in De la Fuente's system throughout the tournament, has shown that when he says something, he means it. The tattoo, done by Ganga, is now part of his body and a part of recent Spanish football history, while fans wait to see if the rest of the squad follows his example.