A mural celebrating Spain’s World Cup-winning hero Ferran Torres was vandalized in Barcelona less than 24 hours after it appeared, according to Spanish outlet Dairo AS. The artwork, created by street artist TVBoy from Barcelona’s Gracia neighborhood, commemorates Torres’s winning goal in Spain’s victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final. The mural shows Torres kissing the World Cup trophy, which reads “Making History” and two stars representing Spain’s two World Cup titles. Earlier, Torres wore a “Make Spain Great Again” hat to celebrate his victory.Shortly after its unveiling, the mural was painted over several times. The first graffiti read “P*** Espanya,” which was then replaced by “Espanya.”By Wednesday morning, the message “volem seleccions catalanes” (“We want the Catalan national team”) was displayed on the wall, reflecting ongoing political tensions surrounding Catalonia’s identity.Barcelona City Council then stepped in, cleaned the wall and repainted it black.TVBoy said the mural had already had an impact before it was vandalized. He recalled a moment when he was painting, “A girl passed by and shouted: ‘Mom, this is Ferran Torres!'” I laughed. Then I understood that art also connects generations. “Although it lasted a little more than a day, the mural sparked discussion beyond football, highlighting how sport, art and politics often intersect in Barcelona.
