MADRID – The Spanish national football team received a jubilant welcome back home following their victory in the European Football Championship.
Led by Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and their teammates, the squad returned from Berlin to Madrid aboard an Iberia Airbus, arriving in the early afternoon. After a brief stop at a hotel for refreshments, they were greeted by King Felipe VI. Thousands of enthusiastic fans clad in red shirts and waving national flags lined the streets of the capital, eagerly cheering “Campeones” and “Viva España.”
King Felipe VI and his daughter, Sofía, had watched Spain secure a 2-1 victory over England in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin the previous evening.
They joined the players on the pitch for the trophy presentation, where the King expressed his elation, praising the team as the best and commending their performance which had captivated the nation.
During a reception at the Zarzuela Palace, the King’s daughters, Crown Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, sported national team jerseys adorned with the number 10 of Dani Olmo from Leipzig, whose crucial goal, alongside Lamine Yamal’s, propelled Spain to the final. Team captain Álvaro Morata presented the King with a jersey bearing the inscription “Reyes de Europa 4” (Kings of Europe 4), symbolizing Spain’s fourth European Championship title. Felipe thanked the players for bringing joy to the country.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also honored the team, emphasizing their historic achievement and their role in uniting the nation through their exceptional play. Sánchez, who had expressed pride in the team’s performance the previous evening, received a jersey similar to the one presented to the King.
Following these formal events, the players embarked on an open-top double-decker bus tour through the bustling city center, making their way to the iconic Cibeles Fountain, where Spaniards traditionally celebrate football victories.
The crowds of tens of thousands, many having waited since midday in scorching temperatures, cheered passionately as the team passed by, celebrating their triumph.
