Gone in 24 hours: What happened to the mural of Ferran Torres in Barcelona?

Ferran Torres’ World Cup tribute in Barcelona has disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared.The mural created by urban artist TVBoy to celebrate the FC Barcelona forward’s winning goal in Spain’s 2026 World Cup final has now been completely covered over by city authorities.

The artwork, painted near Joanic metro station in Barcelona’s Gràcia neighborhood, showed Torres kissing the World Cup trophy beneath the words, in English, 'Making History’ with two stars representing two global titles. It was intended to honor the striker after his extra-time goal against Argentina secured Spain’s second World Cup title.

The tribute survived less than a day.

Within hours of its unveiling, vandals spray-painted over the mural with pro-independence messages, including “Fuck Spain” and “We want Catalan national teams.” TVBoy responded defiantly on social media, writing: “I’ll keep painting. You don’t scare me.”

How did TVBoy’s Ferran mural disappear?

By Tuesday, however, Barcelona City Council had stepped in and painted the entire wall black, removing both the original artwork and the graffiti that had defaced it.

The decision surprised residents and visitors who arrived at Joanic hoping to see the mural after it gained widespread attention online. Instead, they found only a large black rectangle where the painting had stood, with many asking what had happened to the tribute.

Workers at nearby businesses were still cleaning paint residue left behind by the vandalism, highlighting how quickly the site had gone from a World Cup celebration to the center of a political controversy.

The episode has reignited debate over the vulnerability of street art in Barcelona, where high-profile murals can disappear almost as quickly as they are created. On social media, many users questioned how public artwork can be preserved when it becomes the target of vandalism or is later removed by local authorities.

TVBoy reacted with characteristic humor to the city’s decision, joking that officials had “prepared” his next canvas by leaving behind a freshly painted black wall.

In less than 24 hours, the mural went from celebrating one of the biggest moments in Spanish soccer history to vanishing completely from Barcelona’s streets.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.