Marc Cucurella has been widely praised after allowing his postman, Gary, to wear his World Cup winner’s medal during a delivery to the Spain defender’s home.
Cucurella, who has recently joined Real Madrid, remains in the celebratory mood following Spain’s historic World Cup triumph. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the final, with Cucurella part of the side that secured the title.
According to The Sun, the defender shared a personal moment from the victory with Gary, a postman with whom he has developed a friendly relationship.
Gary described the encounter on social media, praising Cucurella’s humility after the player invited him to hold the medal.
The postman called Cucurella “a very humble person” and wrote on Instagram: “I had a wonderful opportunity to talk to World Cup winner Marc Cucurella while delivering mail to his house.”
He added: “He is a kind and humble person, and he allowed me to wear his World Cup winner’s medal. I think I am the first Englishman to wear a World Cup winner’s medal in 60 years.”
Gary also posted a photograph of himself wearing the medal around his neck, alongside a selfie with Cucurella.
The pictures also drew attention to Cucurella’s new hairstyle. The Spain international appeared without his familiar thick, curly hair, instead wearing neat braids that fell down either side of his head.
The story prompted a strong reaction from supporters, many of whom praised Cucurella’s character and modesty despite his success on the international stage.
One fan wrote: “Cucurella is a very respectful man. He is not arrogant despite winning, and he also does a lot of charity work.”
Another said: “He really is a wonderful person. I loved this story so much.”
A third added: “The more I find out about him, the more I admire him.”
Some supporters admitted that Cucurella’s performances and personality during the World Cup had made it difficult for them to dislike him.
The defender had already won admiration from fans after explaining why he deliberately keeps his hair long. Cucurella said the style helps his autistic son identify him more easily among the players during matches.
That explanation added to the positive impression created by his conduct away from the pitch, while his gesture towards Gary offered another example of the player sharing the occasion with someone outside football.
Cucurella’s decision to let the postman wear the medal, and the images that followed, gave fans a glimpse of the player’s celebrations at home after Spain’s one-goal victory over Argentina in the final.
