Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, has delighted football fans by playfully confronting World Cup match-winner Ferran Torres over a bold promise he appeared not to keep – shaving his head if Spain lifted the trophy.
The light-hearted exchange took place during a royal reception for Spain’s national team following their World Cup triumph, their second global title, secured with a 1-0 victory over Argentina on Sunday night thanks to a goal from Torres.
The moment, captured on video during the ceremony at the Zarzuela Palace, has since spread widely on social media and offered a striking glimpse of how closely the future queen follows the fortunes – and the social media pledges – of La Roja’s stars.
Royal reception after World Cup glory
Spain’s players were welcomed by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Princess Leonor as part of the traditional celebrations after major tournament victories.
The team had already paraded the World Cup trophy through the streets of Madrid, where tens of thousands of fans turned out, before completing the formal part of the celebrations at the royal palace and at the Moncloa Palace, the seat of the Spanish government.
Among the many images recorded during the day, the brief conversation between Princess Leonor and Ferran Torres quickly became one of the most discussed episodes online, as viewers tried to work out what had been said between the teenage princess and the Barcelona forward.
‘Weren’t you going to shave your head?’
Initial speculation on social platforms suggested Leonor might have been complimenting the 24-year-old striker. But repeated playbacks and enhanced audio, reported by Spanish sports daily Marca, revealed a very different – and more teasing – message.
According to the recordings, Princess Leonor leaned towards Torres during the royal greeting and asked:
“الم تكن تنوي حلاقة شعرك بالكامل؟” – “Weren’t you going to shave your head completely?”
Torres, smiling and clearly slightly taken aback, replied quickly:
“No, no!”
The exchange referred to a public pledge made by the Valencia-born forward, who had vowed to “shave his head completely” if Spain went on to win the World Cup. His decision to appear at the reception with his usual hairstyle intact did not go unnoticed by the princess.
The short conversation has been widely interpreted as evidence of Leonor’s close following of the national team’s off-pitch promises and behind-the-scenes stories, as well as of a relaxed rapport between the royal family and Spain’s footballers.
Team-mates prepare to honour bold bets
While Ferran Torres appears to have quietly shelved his hair wager, several of his team-mates are reportedly pressing ahead with eye-catching pledges made during Spain’s run to the title.
A group of four players – Marc Cucurella, Alex Baena, Borja Iglesias and Yeremy Pino – have decided they will all get a tattoo of head coach Luis de la Fuente’s face to commemorate the triumph.
Rising star Lamine Yamal, one of the breakout performers of the tournament, has promised to grow his beard and moustache for a full three weeks. In addition, he has pledged to give away 100 pairs of headphones to his fans in a special draw.
Meanwhile midfielders Gavi and Pedri are said to be preparing to dye their hair in highly conspicuous colours as part of their own celebratory commitments.
A title that gripped a nation
Spain’s second World Cup win has reignited euphoria across the country, more than a decade after their first global crown. The players’ open-top bus tour through Madrid, followed by the formal visits to the Zarzuela and Moncloa, marked the culmination of days of celebrations.
In that context, Princess Leonor’s gentle ribbing of Ferran Torres has stood out as one of the most shared and talked-about moments, underlining how football – and the playful promises that surround it – can link the national team, the royal family and supporters in a single, light-hearted story after a historic sporting success.
