Luis de la Fuente anticipates that Marc Cucurella will fulfill his promise to tattoo the Spain manager’s face on his body after securing World Cup glory.

De la Fuente’s team triumphed over Argentina in a decisive final, with Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal during extra time, marking a second tournament victory for the nation.

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This achievement adds to a golden era for Spanish football, with the men’s team already holding the title of European champions and the women’s team also celebrating victory in the Women’s World Cup.

Prior to the tournament, full-back Cucurella had pledged to get a tattoo of De La Fuente’s face if they won the trophy.

De la Fuente expects the Real Madrid-bound defender to follow through on this promise following Spain’s victory in the final.

“They made a mistake, but they are men of their word, and they will stick to their word — I am not too ugly, they will just need to find a part of their body which is not too visible,” De la Fuente joked, suggesting that others had made similar promises. “If you say something you need to stick to your word.”

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This gesture has some precedent; Irish rugby player Mack Hansen tattooed a picture of his coach, Andy Farrell, on himself after winning the 2023 Six Nations.

Since taking charge in 2022, the relatively unheralded De la Fuente has successfully restored Spain as a leading force in football, introducing a new generation of talent through his experience in the nation’s pathways and age-grade teams.

The 65-year-old manager emphasizes that prioritizing the team’s success over individual aspirations has been crucial to their achievements.

“We’re where we want to be, we’re privileged to represent our country with a wonderful national team, with exceptional players,” De la Fuente stated. “I believe the real success relies on having the right travel companions. The people with values and principles.

“The only merit we have is seeking out good people who put the collective good ahead of the individual.”