An artistic tribute to Spain’s World Cup-winning hero Ferran Torres survived little more than a day before being vandalised in Barcelona, reigniting debate over political divisions and the use of public space.
The mural, created by renowned Barcelona street artist TVBoy, appeared on Monday in Joanic Square in the city’s Gràcia neighbourhood, just a day after Torres scored the extra-time winner against Argentina in Sunday’s 2026 World Cup final. ALSO READ: From Barajas to Cibeles: Spain’s World Cup winners receive a hero’s welcome.
The artwork portrayed the FC Barcelona and Spain forward, who is from a village in Valencia, wearing the Spanish national team shirt and kissing the World Cup trophy. Beneath the image were the English words ‘Making history’, underlined with two stars representing Spain’s two World Cup triumphs.
Torres had also attracted attention during Spain’s victory celebrations by wearing a cap bearing the slogan ‘Make Spain Great Again’.
TVBoy, one of Barcelona’s best-known urban artists, is recognised for works that blend current affairs, sport and social commentary. Reflecting on the mural’s creation, he recalled: ‘A girl passed by and shouted; ‘Mom, it’s Ferran Torres!’ I smiled. Then I understood that art also connects generations.’
However, the tribute remained untouched for only a matter of hours before becoming the target of repeated acts of vandalism by Catalan separatists.
The mural was first covered with white paint and defaced with the Catalan phrase ‘Puta Espanya’ (‘F*** Spain’). That message was later painted over, leaving only the word “Espanya”, before the wall was altered once again to display the Catalan words: ‘volem seleccions catalanes’ (‘we want Catalan national teams’).
Among the political messages left on the wall was the demand for a separate Catalan national team, highlighting longstanding tensions surrounding Catalan identity and Spain’s national symbols.
By Wednesday morning, three different versions of the wall had appeared in less than two days. Barcelona City Council cleaning crews eventually intervened, painting over the entire surface in black.
The vandalism has once again fuelled discussion over political polarisation in Catalonia, where expressions of Spanish national identity can provoke strong reactions, particularly in public spaces.
The brief lifespan of the mural also underlined the contrast between TVBoy’s intention to celebrate a historic sporting achievement and the political controversy that quickly overtook it. ALSO READ: Spain crowned World Cup champions after extra-time triumph over Argentina.
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🎨🚫 El mural que el artista urbano TVboy dedicó al futbolista Ferran Torres en el barrio de Gràcia, en Barcelona, ha sido vandalizado un día después de su creación.
— Antena 3 Noticias (@A3Noticias) July 22, 2026
📲 #Antena3Noticias pic.twitter.com/cWs1P0wSCe
¡LAMENTABLE!🤦♂️
— Conexión Deportiva (@CDeportivaES) July 22, 2026
❌El mural dedicado a Ferran Torres en Barcelona, situado en el popular barrio de Gràcia, fue vandalizado.
📹@esport3 pic.twitter.com/O4UfP4wPbJ
⚡⚡Esborrada la pintada sobre el mural de Ferran Torres fet per Tv Boy a la plaça Joanic
— Esport3 (@esport3) July 22, 2026
📲 https://t.co/uewFdcEd4Ohttps://t.co/uewFdcEd4O
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