Marc Cucurella Biography: From Futsal in Alella to Spain’s World Cup Hero
Marc Cucurella biography begins in Alella, a small town 20 minutes up the coast from Barcelona. He played futsal, not football. His father was a car salesman. He was released by Barcelona. He was sold by Brighton. And at 28, he is a World Cup winner, a Euro 2024 champion, and the only player in history to hold both the international World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup simultaneously.
Cucurella was born on July 22, 1998, in Alella, Catalonia. His father, Oscar, was a car salesman who loved football. His mother, Patricia Saseta, kept the family grounded. He grew up watching Carles Puyol, Xavi, and Andrés Iniesta, dreaming of the Camp Nou.
But his path was not the straight line that La Masia usually produces.
The Car Sale That Changed Everything
Cucurella’s origin story is almost too strange to be true.
He started playing futsal for Futsal Alella. His father used to play football with him for hours. One day, when Marc was about eight years old, a man visited Oscar’s car shop to buy a vehicle. They got talking. The man turned out to be connected to Espanyol.
Espanyol were holding trials at their training centre in Sant Adrià. Oscar encouraged his son to attend. Cucurella impressed. He joined Espanyol’s academy. A few years later, Barcelona came calling.
He spent time at La Masia, the legendary academy that produced Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta. He immersed himself in the club’s ideology. But he did not break through. He made one appearance for Barcelona’s first team in the 2017/18 season, winning the Copa del Rey.
That was the only trophy he would win at the Camp Nou.
The Loan Years: Eibar, Getafe, and the Dark Arts
Barcelona sent him on loan to Eibar in 2018/19. Then they sold him to Getafe in 2020 for €10 million . It was at Getafe, under José Bordalás, that Cucurella learned the darker side of defending. He learned how to compete, how to irritate, how to win at all costs.
Brighton came calling in 2021. They paid £15 million. He spent one season at the Amex, impressing enough that Chelsea decided to trigger his £62 million release clause in August 2022.
Chelsea: The Struggle and the Triumph
Cucurella’s first season at Chelsea was difficult. He struggled to adapt to the pressure of a big club. The £62 million fee weighed heavily. Chelsea were in chaos, changing managers and underperforming.
But he persisted.
In 2024/25, everything clicked. Chelsea won the UEFA Conference League. Then they won the FIFA Club World Cup. Cucurella was named in the team of the tournament, recording 12 interceptions, the most of any player.
He became the only player in history to be a world champion at both international and club level simultaneously.
Spain: The Euro and the World Cup
Cucurella made his Spain debut in 2021. But it was Euro 2024 that made him a household name. He played every knockout match. Spain won the tournament. He was named in the Team of the Tournament.
At the 2026 World Cup, he started every match. Spain kept a record-breaking defence, conceding only one goal en route to the final. They beat Argentina 1-0, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner in extra time.
Cucurella was named in the FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament. He played every single minute of Spain’s campaign. He provided two assists. And he dedicated the title to everyone who had helped him along the way.
The Transfer to Real Madrid
In the summer of 2026, Cucurella left Chelsea and joined Real Madrid. The move was a homecoming of sorts. He had grown up in Catalonia, but Madrid was the biggest club in the world. And they wanted him.
His family moved with him. His partner, Claudia Rodriguez, and their three children, Mateo, Rio, and Bella, started a new life in the Spanish capital.
The Father Behind the Hair
Cucurella is known for his flowing hair. But there is a story behind it.
His eldest son, Mateo, was diagnosed with Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder when he was three years old. Cucurella and Claudia have spoken openly about the journey. They have said that raising Mateo has transformed the way they see the world. It has reshaped their family’s life, from school choices to holidays to career decisions.
Cucurella credits his mother for the hair. But he credits his son for the perspective. The hair stays untied. The perspective stays grounded.
My Take: The Rejections Were the Making of Him
Everyone will talk about the £62 million fee. The World Cup. The Club World Cup. The unique double. The move to Real Madrid.
But the real story of this Marc Cucurella biography is the rejections.
He started in futsal. He was released by Barcelona. He was loaned to Eibar. He was sold to Getafe. He was sold to Brighton. He was written off as a £62 million flop at Chelsea.
Every step of the way, someone decided he was not good enough. Every step of the way, he proved them wrong.
He learned the dark arts at Getafe. He learned resilience at Brighton. He learned patience at Chelsea. And when the biggest moments came, he was ready. Euro 2024. The World Cup. The Club World Cup. The unique double.
He is 28 now. He is a World Cup winner. He is a Real Madrid player. He is the only man to hold both the international and club world titles simultaneously. And he is still the boy from Alella who played futsal because that was the game in his town.
The rejections were not the end. They were the beginning.
FAQs
Where was Marc Cucurella born?
Alella, Barcelona, Spain, on July 22, 1998.
Why did Barcelona sell Cucurella?
He did not break through at La Masia. He made one first-team appearance, winning the Copa del Rey, before being loaned to Eibar and sold to Getafe for €10 million .
When did Cucurella join Chelsea?
August 2022, from Brighton, for a fee of £62 million.
Which clubs has Cucurella played for?
Espanyol, Barcelona, Eibar (loan), Getafe, Brighton, Chelsea, and Real Madrid.
Did Cucurella win the World Cup?
Yes. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 final. Cucurella played every minute of the tournament and was named in the Team of the Tournament.
What is unique about Cucurella’s trophy cabinet?
He is the only player to hold both the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup simultaneously.
What is the story behind Cucurella’s hair?
He credits his mother for the hair. But his eldest son, Mateo, who is autistic, has given him a new perspective on life and family.
Data From:
- Marca. (2020, June 30). Getafe execute option to buy Marc Cucurella.
- Transfermarkt. (2020, June 30). Oficial: el Getafe CF ejerce la nueva opción de compra por el barcelonista Cucurella.
- Defensa Central. (2026, July 20). Confirmado: Cucurella se convierte en el único jugador que es campeón del mundo de clubes y de selecciones al mismo tiempo.
- OneFootball. (2026, July 20). Real Madrid new signing Marc Cucurella makes history following World Cup win with Spain.
