Sometimes, in football, a small action ends up becoming part of history.
Before the 2026 World Cup final, Marc Cucurella carried out a curious ritual that few people knew about: he buried a coin in the grass before the match against Argentina, following a tradition started by another Spanish world champion left-back.
The story began in South Africa 2010, when Joan Capdevila did exactly the same thing before the final against the Netherlands. Years later, the former player asked Cucurella to repeat the superstition before the decisive match in 2026.
The Spanish defender accepted the challenge and made the gesture minutes before the match. Afterwards, Spain ended up defeating Argentina and won their second World Cup, prompting many fans to start talking about the “lucky charm” of Spanish left-backs.
Beyond whether it was a simple coincidence or a genuine superstition, the image created a special story: two generations separated by 16 years, the same position on the pitch, and a small coin that ended up becoming part of a World Cup celebration.
Superstition, coincidence, or simply a beautiful football story?
The ritual follows: