Ferran Torres World Cup mural vandalised in Barcelona

A mural celebrating Spain's World Cup-winning hero Ferran Torres was vandalised less than 24 hours after it appeared in Barcelona, according to a report from Spanish outlet Dairo AS. The artwork, created by Barcelona-based street artist TVBoy in the city's Gràcia neighbourhood, honoured Torres after he scored the winning goal in Spain's 2026 World Cup final victory over Argentina. The mural showed Torres kissing the World Cup trophy with the words "Making history" and two stars representing Spain's two World Cup titles. It also came after Torres celebrated the title wearing a hat that read "Make Spain Great Again."

Soon after it was unveiled, the mural was painted over several times. The first graffiti read "P*** Espanya," before it was replaced with "Espanya". By Wednesday morning, the wall displayed the message "volem seleccions catalanes" ("we want Catalan national teams"), reflecting ongoing political tensions around Catalan identity. Barcelona City Council later stepped in, cleaning the wall and repainting it black.

TVBoy said the mural had already made an impact before it was vandalised. Recalling a moment while he was painting, he said, "A girl passed by and shouted; 'Mom, it’s Ferran Torres!' I smiled. Then I understood that art also connects generations." Despite lasting little more than a day, the mural sparked conversation beyond football, highlighting how sport, art and politics often intersect in Barcelona.