Support La Cotorra on Patreon
Access exclusive content, special perks, and closer connection with us.
More Than Just Football: 8 Incredible Stories Behind Spain’s World Cup Stars
You don't have to love football to fall in love with the current Spanish national team. All it takes is getting to know some of the fascinating stories of the players who make up the squad.
One learned fluent Croatian, another proudly flashes his childhood postal code, and a third quit social media altogether. La Cotorra has gathered the most surprising and heartwarming facts about Spain's national team players to make watching this historic World Cup final even more thrilling.
Yes, Messi Really Did Bathe a Baby Lamine Yamal
The photo of a young Lionel Messi bathing a five-month-old Lamine Yamal went viral once again on the eve of the highly anticipated Spain vs. Argentina final. And yes—it is 100% real, as hard as that might be to believe.
In December 2007, a 20-year-old Lionel Messi participated in a charity photoshoot for a calendar published by the newspaper Diario Sport, the Barcelona Foundation, and UNICEF. The concept featured Barça players posing with infants from local families participating in UNICEF's social programs. The family of five-month-old Lamine Yamal ended up at the shoot almost entirely by chance.
Photographer Joan Monfort recalled that he came up with the plastic tub idea the night before while bathing his own daughter. Messi, however, was visibly nervous at first: holding someone else's newborn turned out to be far more nerve-wracking than dribbling past world-class defenders. According to the organisers, a plastic rubber duck in the tub helped break the ice and put the future superstar at ease.
The photo was largely forgotten for years. It found a second life in 2024 when Lamine's father published the image on Instagram with the caption: "The beginning of two legends." Now, nearly twenty years later, they will face each other on the pitch in the World Cup final.
Why Lamine Yamal Flashes the Number "304"
Whenever Lamine Yamal scores, he celebrates by forming the number "304" with his fingers. While many fans spent months searching for a hidden tactical or footballing meaning, the reality is much more personal. "304" represents the final digits of the postal code for Rocafonda (08304), the working-class neighbourhood in Mataró (Catalonia) where he grew up.
Rocafonda is a modest neighbourhood home to many immigrant families—including Yamal's own parents, who emigrated from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. Following Lamine's meteoric rise, a graffiti mural appeared in the neighbourhood reading: "More Lamine Yamals, fewer evictions."
Thus, every single goal celebration is more than just a joy reaction; it's a tribute to his roots. Today, the digits "304" are proudly displayed not just in Yamal's hand gestures, but on local t-shirts, graffiti, and murals throughout Rocafonda.
Borja Iglesias Paints His Nails (And It's Not Just a Fashion Statement)
Supporters have long nicknamed striker Borja Iglesias "The Panda" due to his thick beard and general resemblance to the animal. But in recent years, he has made waves for reasons extending far beyond his footballing prowess.
A few years ago, Iglesias began regularly taking the pitch with painted black nails. The player explained that this was a highly deliberate choice.
"I paint my nails because it is a way for me to raise awareness about racism and fight against it using my public platform. It also stands as a statement against homophobia. And, to be honest, I just like how it looks," Iglesias wrote.
In January 2026, after Borja was subjected to homophobic abuse during a match, fans of his club, Celta de Vigo, organised a touching campaign of solidarity. For the subsequent match, hundreds of fans arrived with painted nails—some even adding tiny pandas in honour of his nickname.
Spain’s Retro Away Kit is Inspired by Ancient Manuscripts
While Spain's home kit remains a traditional red with yellow stripes, the real design gem lies in their away kit.
The kit is designed in the warm, elegant shades of aged parchment paper, featuring an intricate, subtle pattern that pays homage to Spain's medieval manuscripts and historic calligraphy.
Instead of the modern Adidas performance logo, the jersey features the iconic Trefoil logo—the classic three-leaf emblem used by the brand on sportswear between the 1970s and 1990s. Typically reserved for retro lifestyle collections, its return to the pitch acts as a beautiful nod to classic football heritage.
Furthermore, on the inside of the collar, designers highlighted the letter "ñ" in "España"—undoubtedly one of the most distinctive and beloved letters of the Spanish language.
The World Cup Squad Was Announced by the King, Fishermen, and Bakers
When the time came to announce Spain’s official squad for the World Cup, the football federation decided to completely bypass the standard, dry press conference where a coach simply reads list entries aloud.
Instead, they released a deeply moving three-minute video in which the names of all 26 players were read out by everyday Spanish citizens: fishermen, taxi drivers, teachers, bakers, and professionals from dozens of fields. The video concludes with King Felipe VI delivering the final line: "Es la lista de todo un país. Es la lista de España" (This is the list of an entire country. This is the list of Spain).
While creative squad announcements have grown in popularity across international football, Spain's cinematic tribute to its working class was widely hailed as one of the most heartwarming and memorable sports campaigns of the year.
The Team's Captain Holds a University Degree
Rodri is widely recognized not only as Spain's midfield anchor and captain, but also as a footballer with a rare dedication to academics and self-development.
While rising to elite football stardom, he successfully completed his Business Administration degree at the Jaume I University in Castellón. Rodri began his university studies while playing in La Liga and finished them remotely after transferring to England. The midfielder has frequently mentioned how he actively chose to live in "two worlds"—the high-pressure professional football universe and normal student life.
Dani Olmo Voluntarily Left Barcelona’s Academy
Most aspiring young footballers dream of earning a coveted spot in Barcelona’s famed youth academy. Dani Olmo did the exact opposite. At age 16, he walked away from La Masia to move to Zagreb, signing with Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb. At the time, the decision was widely viewed as pure madness.
In Croatia, Olmo not only learned the language fluently but also blossomed into the team's undisputed star. His performances were so outstanding that the Croatian federation even explored naturalising him to play for their national team. However, Olmo stayed patient for his call-up from Spain, later crediting his years in Zagreb for forging his mental and physical competitive edge.
The Williams Brothers Represent Different Countries
Nico Williams is a key star for Spain, while his older brother, Iñaki, plays for Ghana. Remarkably, both continue to play alongside each other at club level for Athletic Club Bilbao.
Their parents made a perilous journey from Ghana to Spain before the brothers were born—a legendary family history that became the subject of the documentary Los Williams. For one brother, his home is the nation where he was born and raised. For the other, it is the ancestral homeland where his family's story first began.
Marc Cucurella’s Curls Have Created a Saga of Their Own
Marc Cucurella’s wild, voluminous curls have long been his trademark. During Euro 2024, the left-back jokingly promised to dye his hair bright red if Spain won the tournament. True to his word, he debuted a striking scarlet look just days after lifting the trophy.
Ahead of the World Cup, the hair saga took an intriguing turn. In June, Cucurella posted a brief teaser holding hair clippers, stating: "The World Cup is starting, but this year I am not dyeing my hair." The video cut off abruptly, leaving fans wildly speculating about what extreme bet he might have made for a World Cup victory.
Social media immediately exploded with theories that the defender was prepared to shave his head if La Roja triumphed. However, fans of his iconic look breathed a sigh of relief: the clipper teaser turned out to be a clever marketing stunt for hair care brand Garnier, for which Cucurella serves as a brand ambassador.
Why Spain's Goalkeeper Completely Deleted His Social Media
Spain's starting goalkeeper, Unai Simón, realised that reading post-match comments and fan criticism online was taking an unhealthy toll on his mental well-being, particularly after difficult games.
His solution was swift and radical: he completely shut down all his social media profiles. Simón has since joked that having twenty million online followers would feel more like a massive headache than a blessing, adding that he vastly prefers spending his vacations disconnected, off-grid, and away from his phone.