Thousands of fans sweltered in 35C heat in Madrid on Monday, hours before Spain’s World Cup-winning squad finally emerged for a bus parade through the capital. The team had landed in the afternoon, with manager Luis de la Fuente and captain Rodri first off the plane, before heading straight to Zarzuela Palace to meet King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia.
The open-top bus then wound its way from the Moncloa district, Rodri holding the trophy aloft at the front. Ferran Torres – the man whose goal won the final – soaked up the adulation, while Lamine Yamal, referencing the full-time scuffles that marred Sunday’s match, held up a sign thrown from the crowd demanding a boxing match between Gavi and Argentina’s Leandro Paredes. Those post-final incidents have already triggered a Fifa investigation.
“Spain's World Cup winners parade through Madrid as Pedro Porro defends team from 'unfair' critics after final scuffles.”
As the parade reached the famous Cibeles Fountain, fans erupted. Luis de la Fuente was thrown into the air the moment he stepped on stage. Later, the squad’s celebrations continued into the night.
Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, a member of the victorious squad, hailed his teammates as ‘incredible’ and pushed back against criticism of Spain’s conduct. ‘Some have been unfair,’ he said, according to the Standard, referring to the fallout from the final. Porro, a former Manchester City player, watched as Torres – also formerly of City – struck the winner in the tense showdown in New Jersey.
Rodri’s triumph means he becomes only the fourth men’s player to win the World Cup, Euros, Champions League and Ballon d’Or – a feat that places him among the all-time greats. For now, though, Madrid’s streets belong to the new world champions, their victory already splashed across the front and back pages of Spain’s newspapers.