Marc Cucurella has kept his word. Just over a week after Spain's World Cup final win over Argentina, the Real Madrid left-back has unveiled a tattoo of head coach Luis de la Fuente — fulfilling a pledge made before a ball was kicked at the tournament.

Cucurella, who joined Real Madrid from Chelsea this summer, posted the finished piece on Instagram on Tuesday alongside a photo of himself with tattoo artist Joaquín Ganga, whose past clients include LeBron James and Drake. His caption: "Promise fulfilled."

The promise

Cucurella made the vow on Cadena COPE before the tournament began, saying he would have De la Fuente's face tattooed on his body if Spain won the World Cup. He said at the time it would need to go somewhere visible, so people would recognise the tribute.

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July, with Ferran Torres scoring the only goal. It was Spain's second World Cup title, following their first in 2010, and completed back-to-back major honours for De la Fuente's squad after their Euro 2024 win.

Minutes after the final whistle, still wearing his winner's medal, Cucurella took to social media to start the search for an artist, posting: "Any tattoo artists in the room?" Speaking to Marca in the mixed zone shortly after, he admitted he still had to settle on a design. "I have to think about where I'm going to get it," he said.

De la Fuente plays along

Asked about the promise at his post-match press conference, De la Fuente made clear he expected his players to follow through.

"They made a mistake, but they're serious people, and they'll keep their word," the 65-year-old said, joking that he himself was too old for tattoos. He added, laughing, that he wasn't too hard on the eyes for the tribute to be seen — and said he was proud his squad kept their promises.

The finished tattoo, on Cucurella's arm, shows De la Fuente in a suit, holding the World Cup trophy.

More promises to come

Cucurella is the first of Spain's squad to fulfil a tournament pledge, but he will not be the last. Lamine Yamal, 19, has promised to grow a beard and moustache for three weeks and give away 100 pairs of Beats headphones to fans, while several team-mates committed to dyeing or shaving their hair if Spain won the trophy.

For a squad that spent almost two months together across the US, Mexico and Canada, the promises have become a lighter footnote to a tournament that confirmed Spain, once again, as the dominant force in world football.