Why Marc Cucurella buried a coin before Spain’s 2010 World Cup final as a ‘secret’ ritual

Marco Cucurella’s secret pre-match ritual helped continue Spain’s World Cup winning streak / Image: X Marc Cucurella was spotted performing an unusual pre-match ritual ahead of Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina, and it has now emerged that the act was part of a 16-year-old superstition handed down by one of Spain’s previous FIFA World Cup winners.Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time at New York’s New Jersey Stadium to lift the men’s World Cup for the second time in history, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute.While much of the attention after the final focused on Spain’s triumph and Argentina’s late collapse, footage taken shortly before kick-off revealed Cucurella walking quietly to the touchline, removing an object from his sock and burying it under the turf.

The tradition of “secret” lucky coins

At first, no one knew what the left-back of Spain hid in the grass.The mystery was solved after the final by former Spain defender Joan Capdevila, who revealed that the object was a coin and that he had personally asked Cucurella to continue the superstition, which dates back to Spain’s first World Cup triumph in 2010.Capdevila, who started at left-back when Spain beat the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, explained that he buried a coin on the pitch before that game and urged Cucurella to repeat the ritual before facing Argentina.Writing on X, Capdevila said: “And now I’m going to tell you a secret… In 2010 I buried a coin in the grass before the match started… I’ve said it a million times.“Yesterday I asked @cucurella3 to do the same…“Marc, I love you so much. YOU ARE THE MASTER OF THE WORLD!”He also shared a video showing Cucurella discreetly checking that no one was looking before placing the coin on the lawn and covering it with grass moments before kicking off.

Spain’s good luck charm ends with another World Cup

Whether it was coincidence or superstition, the ritual seemed to be working again.Spain controlled much of the final against defending champions Argentina before finally finding a breakthrough in extra time.Ferran Torres struck in the 106th minute after being set up by Nico Williams to hand Luis de la Fuente’s side a hard-fought 1-0 victory and secure Spain’s second World Cup title, exactly 16 years after their first.Cucurella was once again a key figure throughout the tournament, capping another successful international campaign after helping Spain win the European Championship two years earlier.Argentina’s hopes of forcing penalties had already suffered a major blow when Enzo Fernández was sent off in stoppage time in normal time after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Pau Cubarsí. Tempers rose after the final whistle and Leandro Paredes was also sent off after an altercation involving several Spain players.

Capdevil’s own World Championship journey almost ended before it began

The story was of particular importance because Capdevila himself almost missed the final.Earlier in the week, the 2010 World Cup winner revealed that his application to enter the United States under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had been rejected, reportedly because of a previous exhibition match he played in Iran.Capdevila publicly appealed to US President Donald Trump on social media, writing: “I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump!”“I’ve just been told I can’t travel to the finals with my children because I’ve been refused an ESTA.“Can someone help me with this? You have no idea how excited I was to be there with all my 2010 teammates and this team to cheer them on.”“I can’t believe they won’t let me into the US… and that I’ll miss this moment with my kids who love soccer so much.”According to ESPN, U.S. Customs and Border Protection later confirmed to the AP that it had received an application related to Capdevil’s case and subsequently granted him entry into the country.The former Villarreal defender arrived in New Jersey in time for the final and watched Spain lift the World Cup from the stands.After the win, he celebrated both Spain’s triumph and his own success by posting: “HOW WAS IT NOT WORTH IT… I DESERVED TO BE HERE WITH THE FAMILY ENJOYING THIS MOMENT AND JUSTICE WAS SERVED. Thanks to everyone who worked to make this possible, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”For Capdevila, a coin buried under the grass already brought good luck to Spain in 2010. Sixteen years later, when Cucurella repeated the same silent pre-kick-off ritual, it ended with another World Cup trophy heading back to Spain.