Ferran Torres says cap was not political

Spanish soccer star Ferran Torres has clarified that his decision to wear a "Make Spain Great Again" cap during his national team's World Cup victory parade was not a political statement, dismissing speculation that it was a nod to former U.S. President Donald Trump. The forward, who scored the winning goal in Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final last month, made the comments in a recent interview while in the United States.

Torres explained that the red cap, which echoes Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan, was simply a celebratory gesture. He stated he has no interest in politics and wore it only to mark Spain's triumph. The cap was donned a day after Trump himself presented the World Cup trophy and medals to the Spanish team at MetLife Stadium, a role for the former president that drew criticism from some fans who felt his influence over the tournament was excessive.

The imagery quickly sparked international debate, with the White House commenting on social media that "everyone wants in on the movement." Media outlets and observers questioned whether Torres was mocking Trump, showing support, or making an ironic statement. The player's unequivocal...