Cucurella says he would quit Spain duty if they win World Cup final

Marc Cucurella has stunned Spanish fans by revealing he plans to retire from international football if Spain beat Argentina in Sunday’s 2026 World Cup final in the United States.

The Real Madrid left-back made the admission in an interview with Spanish broadcaster Movistar, just 48 hours before the showpiece at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Spain face Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Sunday in a clash billed as a meeting of generations, with La Roja chasing a historic double of winning both the European Championship and the World Cup in succession.

But attention has been drawn away from tactics and team selection after Cucurella openly discussed walking away from the national team at the age of 28 – at what could be the peak of his career.

“I’ll call De la Fuente the next day”

In the clip aired by Movistar, Cucurella was asked about his future with Spain and whether lifting the World Cup would change his outlook.

He replied: “If I win the World Cup, I will call Luis (de la Fuente) the next day to tell him that I am retiring from international football.”

When pressed on why he would consider such a dramatic decision, the defender suggested there would be nothing left to surpass.

“After winning the European Championship and the World Cup, I cannot offer anything better,” the Spanish full-back said.

Movistar published the video with a pointed caption aimed at the player: “Marc, we are 90 minutes away, but we hope you were joking.”

Cucurella’s comments have generated intense debate in Spain, with some supporters expressing concern at the possibility of losing a key player so early in his international career, while others see it as a sign of his determination to reach the game’s ultimate summit.

Rapid rise with La Roja
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Cucurella, who turns 28 on Wednesday, only broke into the Spain senior team in 2021 but has quickly become an important figure for coach Luis de la Fuente.

Since making his debut five years ago, he has earned 31 caps, scoring once and providing five assists. His form at this World Cup has seen him widely praised, with local media repeatedly describing him as one of the tournament’s standout performers in his position.

Spanish outlets have also highlighted him among the leading candidates for the competition’s Best Young Player award, underlining his impact despite his relatively late arrival on the international stage.

Key figure before Argentina showdown

Spain’s run to the final has been built on a balance between a vibrant attack and a disciplined back line, with Cucurella central to both phases – supporting in build-up and chance creation while remaining solid defensively.

Analysts following FIFA’s power rankings throughout the tournament have consistently rated Spain highly across attacking, playmaking and defensive metrics, with Cucurella often singled out as a symbol of that all-round strength.

His potential international retirement would remove one of De la Fuente’s most versatile options at full-back, at a time when Spain appear to be entering a new golden era.

For now, though, focus will turn back to the pitch and to Sunday’s final, where Cucurella’s immediate future will be defined not by interviews, but by 90 – or possibly 120 – minutes against the world champions.

Whether his words prove to be an emotional pre-final flourish or a firm decision, they have added yet another layer of intrigue to a World Cup climax already rich with storylines.