Princess Leonor’s viral question to Ferran Torres steals the spotlight: “Weren’t you going to shave your head?”

Spain has just lived through days of nonstop celebrations, and with good reason. On Sunday, July 19, La Roja lifted the World Cup trophy after 16 years, adding a second star above the men’s team crest, the women’s team earned the first in 2023, and plunging the entire country into a whirlwind of joy and excitement. 

The long-awaited World Cup victory has left behind unforgettable images that will go down in history. Throughout the tournament, the Spanish team showed in every game just how much their bond off the field fueled their chemistry on it, winning new fans as the championship went on. But there were some admirers who believed in them from the very beginning: the Royal Family, who have once again confirmed their passion for the beautiful game.

© Europa Press Entertainment

This was clear in the different meetings King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, held with the players and coaching staff of the Spanish national team over these forty-plus days when soccer was practically all anyone talked about. From their surprise video enjoying the Spain–France semifinal to keeping their promise to be in the stands at MetLife Stadium in New York, the Royal Family has been closely involved with this new historic milestone for Spanish sport, of which they are devoted fans. 

Their appearances have produced images that have already gone viral, like the now-famous greeting between the King and one of La Roja’s brightest stars, Lamine Yamal, during the reception at the Palacio de la Zarzuela.

© Paolo Blocco

Princess Leonor, at the center of another viral moment

The palace was also the setting for another standout moment of the past few days, though the protagonists were different. In the audience hall of the private residence where the King and Queen live with their daughters, the Royal Family personally greeted each of the players and members of the Spanish team’s coaching staff, congratulating them on their triumph and showing the closeness that has grown over several meetings. Their rapport was so obvious that at times, as in the already mentioned moment, protocol was briefly set aside and emotions took over.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey

We saw this in Princess Leonor’s greeting to the key figure in Spain’s win over Argentina in the World Cup final, Ferran Torres, who scored the deciding goal in the 106th minute. Spain had scored twice before, but both goals were disallowed. Before the match that would decide who took home the gold, the forward had promised that if La Roja were crowned world champions, he’d be willing to make a radical change and shave his head. His words quickly spread across fan forums and social media, where many also pointed to the player’s hair as a big part of his new personal style.

© Michael Regan - FIFA

It’s no surprise that his promise reached Princess Leonor, who didn’t hesitate to ask him about it, as you can clearly see from the future Queen’s lips. “Weren’t you going to shave your head?” the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia asked him with a laugh, according to Vanitatis, as she shook his hand. The question caught La Roja’s number 7 off guard, and he couldn’t help but be swept up in the Princess’s good mood as he shook his head. “No, no,” he replied, prompting a burst of laughter from Infanta Sofía’s older sister at the player’s reaction.