Spain World Cup standout Ferran Torres has explained the red “Make Spain Great Again” cap he wore during the national team’s homecoming celebration, saying the gesture was meant as a joke rather than a political statement.
Speaking Monday night with CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins, the 26-year-old Barcelona forward described the Donald Trump-style baseball cap as part of a lighthearted celebration.
“It was a funny moment,” Torres said, adding that the choice had “nothing” to do with politics.
“Honestly, I don’t know about politics,” he said. “It was just about seeing Spain at the top, winning the World Cup. It was about having fun with my friends, with my family — nothing political.”
Torres, who scored the decisive goal in last month’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium to secure Spain’s second title, also told NBC’s “Today” earlier Monday that he had replayed the moment roughly a thousand times.
The cap quickly drew attention beyond Spain’s celebrations, including from the U.S. president himself.
Trump praised Torres while speaking to reporters on July 24, five days after the final, calling him “a great player.”
“He was wearing essentially a ‘Make America Great Again’ cap, so it was a nice tribute,” Trump said.
“And I think he meant that very nicely, we appreciate it.”
The White House joked that “Everyone wants in on the [MAGA] movement” after scenes from the celebrations in Madrid went viral.
A shirtless Torres was seen donning the cap on an open top bus while Spain fans reveled in the team’s success over Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Former Manchester City ace Torres is at the center of transfer speculation this summer amid rumors he could swap Barcelona for the French giants and current Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
