A mural dedicated to Spain's World Cup winner Ferran Torres has been vandalised within 24 hours in Barcelona. The artwork, painted by Italian street artist TVBoy, depicted Torres kissing the World Cup trophy and included the words 'Making History' along with two stars representing Spain's World Cup wins in 2010 and 2026.
Vandals Deface Mural with Political Messages
The mural, located near the Joanic metro station in Barcelona's Gracia neighbourhood, was defaced with spray-painted slogans including 'F*** Spain' and 'We want Catalan national teams'. The graffiti targeted both Torres and the trophy image.
Torres, who plays for Barcelona, scored Spain's winning goal in extra time on Sunday to secure a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final. The mural was intended to celebrate his achievement and the national team's success.
City Council Intervention
On Tuesday, Barcelona's city council stepped in and painted the entire wall black, effectively removing both the original artwork and the vandalism. The council's action aimed to neutralise the politically charged messages.
TVBoy responded to criticism on social media from supporters of Catalan independence. 'I'll keep painting. You don't scare me,' he wrote, indicating his defiance against the backlash.
Spain's World Cup Victory Celebrations
Spain's players returned home from the United States on Monday, where nearly two million people gathered in Madrid to celebrate the nation's World Cup victory. The team participated in an open-top bus parade through the Madrid streets.
Before the parade, Spain's players were greeted by Spanish King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. 'I would like to give immense thanks to the staff and the players for your playing style, effort and victory,' Sanchez told the players, according to reports.
