Spanish forward Ferran Torres has reflected on his World Cup winning goal against Argentina and his transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain during an appearance on Spanish television talk show El Hormiguero.
The striker explained that his decisive strike in the final accelerated his departure from FC Barcelona to join French club Paris Saint-Germain in pursuit of a more prominent role on the pitch.
Appearing on set in a striped shirt with a white collar, Torres opened the interview by telling host Pablo Motos that he was delighted to bring happiness to the best country in the world. Motos interviewed the Valencia-born forward about the final, his move to Paris, his relationship with manager Luis Enrique, and the life changes following Spain's World Cup victory.
Recounting the Winning Goal Against Argentina
Torres recounted the seconds leading up to his winning goal against Argentina with cinematic detail, though he admitted that the excitement erased his immediate memory of the action. He described seeing winger Lamine Yamal control the ball on the flank before passing to right-back Pedro Porro.
As the ball traveled toward Nico Williams, Torres noticed space opening up inside the penalty box, describing the area as an island. He recalled taking gradual steps forward before executing his shot at top speed.
Drawing a direct comparison to Andrés Iniesta's iconic extra-time goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands in South Africa, Torres explained that he experienced the same sensation of total concentration. He revealed that he heard complete silence for a single second right before striking the ball, after which he found himself running toward the corner flag to celebrate.
The rush of adrenaline was so overwhelming that Torres had to ask his parents after the match to explain how the goal occurred. He added with a laugh that he remembered roughly 20 teammates, whom he described as wild boars, sprinting toward him in celebration.
The celebration resulted in a minor injury when Torres kicked the corner flag, causing a bruise on his instep that he failed to notice initially due to the emotional high. He confessed that seeing his teammates charge at him at full speed also gave him a brief scare.
Since July 19, Torres stated that he has watched the replay of his goal at least once a day, accumulating an estimated one million views. He declared that the winning goal belonged to 47 million Spaniards and that he felt the strength of the entire country during the match.
Overcoming Criticism and Early World Cup Struggles
Reflecting on his tournament performance, Torres described his World Cup journey as a process of continuous improvement through challenging moments. He asserted that every missed opportunity in earlier matches helped build the decisive goal in the final.
Addressing the criticism he received during earlier stages of the competition, Torres explained that managing difficult spells requires turning setbacks into positive decisions. He noted that public criticism indicates an athlete is achieving something significant, using negative comments as personal motivation.
The forward emphasized that he maintains a firm belief in fate, stating that his destiny was already written and meant specifically for him.
Ibiza Vacation and Motos Friendship
Following Spain's official reception in Madrid, Torres traveled to the Mediterranean island of Ibiza to rest, where he crossed paths with show host Pablo Motos. Motos revealed on air that the two spent a long night partying together in Ibiza that extended into the following day.
Motos recalled finding Torres dancing at a nightclub alongside Spanish-Georgian mixed martial artist Ilia Topuria. Torres credited the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight fighter with instilling part of the confidence he carried throughout the World Cup tournament.
Motos also shared an anecdote from past World Cup celebrations, admitting that he did not watch the 2010 final or Iniesta's famous goal. The presenter explained that former Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina invited him to a celebration on August 31, as both share the same birthday. During the party, Motos mistook defender Sergio Ramos for former Real Madrid midfielder Guti, a humorous error that sparked a long friendship between Motos and Ramos.
Adapting to Life in Paris with PSG
Discussing his adaptation to Paris Saint-Germain, Torres acknowledged that while his transition is going well, the move to France remains demanding. He revealed that he spent the week of the broadcast in the middle of moving house and admitted missing elements of his life in Barcelona.
Torres remarked that while he could move all his belongings from Barcelona to Paris, the one thing he could not bring was former teammate Pedri, whom he already misses. He noted that sudden transfers present real challenges for footballers who must pack their bags overnight.
To ease his integration in France, Torres is taking French language lessons, though he admitted that starting a new language is uncomfortable. He has also located several local restaurants in Paris serving Spanish cuisine.
Inside the PSG dressing room, Torres has reconnected with fellow Spanish international teammates Fabián Ruiz and Dro Fernández. He also reunited with manager Luis Enrique, who previously coached Torres when leading the Spanish national team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Torres praised Luis Enrique's direct leadership style, describing the manager as remarkably natural and honest. He noted that Luis Enrique communicates directly with players regardless of whether feedback is good or bad, contrasting it with the constant flattery footballers typically receive. He added that the coach remains strictly faithful to his ideas and his players.
Ballon d'Or Nominees and Strong PSG Form
When asked about the upcoming Ballon d'Or award presented by France Football, Torres refrained from predicting a winner, stating the decision was beyond his control. However, he expressed a clear preference for a Spanish player to win the trophy.
Spain features six nominees on the 30-player shortlist for the award, including Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, and Torres himself. His recent performances at PSG back his inclusion, having scored seven goals in six appearances for the French club.
His impressive early record includes a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League against Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava. In domestic competition, Torres debuted for PSG with a brace against Rennes and earned starting places against Brest and Olympique de Marseille.
In the high-profile French derby against Marseille, Torres came off the bench to score the opening goal in a 1-0 victory for PSG. Before concluding his appearance on El Hormiguero, Torres met the creator of the viral Oh Ferran sound that has circulated across social media platforms.
