King congratulates football team on 'epic victory': 'You have won for all of Spain'

King Felipe VI extended his congratulations to the Spanish national football team, hailing their World Cup triumph as an "epic victory" and an "odyssey." Addressing the players in the gardens of the Zarzuela Palace, accompanied by Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofia, the King lauded the team's "solidarity and generosity," emphasizing that they had become "one unit" and secured the championship with grit and endurance for all of Spain.

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You come tired, but what a good kind of tired.

"You come tired, but what a good kind of tired," the King told the players. He acknowledged the long and arduous journey to victory, noting that the team had endured suffering and criticism, which he dismissed as insignificant compared to the joy of bringing the trophy home. He commended their playing style, characterized by technique, control, and patience, stating they combined "head and heart" while remaining faithful to their approach.

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What is all that compared to the joy of bringing the cup home?

Felipe VI described the team as "a unit, a team, solidary, generous," and praised their "gallantry" in winning. He declared them a "stellar and legendary ensemble" in Spanish football history, a title that now includes the women's national team's World Cup victory in 2023. The King affirmed that when the national team plays, "all of Spain plays," and that this victory belongs to the entire country. He encouraged the footballers to savor every moment of the reception they would receive.

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You have been a unit, a team, solidary, generous and you have also won with gallantry; you carry those two stars forever.