Why Marc Cucurella hid a coin in the grass before the World Cup final — footage reveals his little ‘secret’ act
Marc Cucurella’s little pre-World Cup final ritual has just come to light, thanks to a fellow Spaniard who did the same thing before the 2010 final. Spain became world champions for the second time, repeating their triumph from 16 years ago, after Ferran Torres came off the bench to score the winning goal in extra time.
During the match, Enzo Fernandez was sent off after getting two quick yellow cards, and after the final whistle, Leandro Paredes was also shown a red card for pushing several Spanish players in some tense moments.
Cucurella, who is about to join Real Madrid, had a fantastic tournament, ending it as a world champion alongside his La Roja teammates. Two years ago, they also won the European Championship in Berlin.
Here’s the fun part: just before the game, after hugging his teammates, Cucurella was seen walking to the sideline. He seemed to take something from his sock and place it on the field, carefully messing with the grass. This little act was actually a lucky superstition with a special meaning.
The video of Cucurella’s ritual was shared by Joan Capdevila, Spain’s left-back during their 2008 and 2010 victories. On social media, Capdevila explained that before the 2010 final, he buried a coin in the grass for good luck and encouraged Cucurella to do the same this time. He wrote, “In 2010, I buried a coin in the grass before the match… I’ve told this story many times. Yesterday, I asked @cucurella3 to do the same… Marc, I love you so much. YOU ARE A WORLD CHAMPION!”
Capdevila was lucky enough to watch Spain’s latest win in the stands and even shared a photo of himself sitting on the bench after the game. But getting there wasn’t easy — at first, he was blocked from entering the U.S. because his ESTA visa was denied. This pushed him to post a heartfelt plea on social media, tagging then-President Donald Trump, asking for help.
He wrote, “Can anyone help me? I was so excited to be there with my 2010 teammates and this team to cheer them on. I can’t believe they’re not letting me into the USA… and I’ll miss this amazing moment with my kids who love soccer so much. If anyone can help, I’ll be grateful forever.”
Reports said his visa was rejected because he had played an exhibition game in Iran, a country that faced some tough treatment during the tournament in the U.S. But, according to ESPN, U.S. Customs and Border Protection later approved his entry.
Capdevila arrived just in time for the big game and shared his joy at being there for Spain’s second World Cup win. He wrote, “IT WAS SO WORTH IT… I DESERVED TO BE HERE WITH MY FAMILY, ENJOYING THIS MOMENT. JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible — from the bottom of my heart.”