Ferran Torres mural appears vandalised in Plaça Joanic

The artwork showed the FC Barcelona forward kissing the Copa del Mundo while wearing the national team jersey. Above the image, the words “Making History” could be read, accompanied by two stars referencing Spain’s titles in 2010 and 2026.

The footballer was inevitably the main figure of the mural. Ferran Torres came off the bench and scored the only goal of the final against Argentina in the 106th minute, on Sunday 19 July, giving the team its second world championship.

TVboy had chosen one of his usual walls near Joanic, where he has already portrayed figures from sports, politics, and culture. During the process, the artist mentioned that a young girl quickly recognised the forward as she passed by the painting.

For a few hours, the intervention turned this corner of Gràcia into a small meeting point for onlookers, fans, and neighbours who stopped to photograph the scene. The image linked the sporting celebration with the neighbourhood’s tradition of street art.

During the night, the painting was partially covered and slogans in support of the Catalan teams appeared. The attack added a political dimension to a work conceived as a tribute to the Valencian Barça player and his decisive performance in the final.

TVboy has stated that he will continue working despite this kind of action. His murals are ephemeral by nature, and other sporting tributes in Barcelona have also been altered, damaged, or replaced shortly after appearing.

The scene leaves two very different images on the same wall: first, Ferran Torres lifting the cup as a symbol of shared celebration; then, white paint covering part of the tribute. In Gràcia, the victory has also become a debate about identity, football, and public space.