Ferran Torres went from a highly talented Spanish footballer to being cemented in the annals of football history within a couple of hours last week. The 26-year-old struck home the winner against Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium to lift the elusive trophy.
The celebrations have not stopped ever since in the La Roja camp. After immediate bedlam in New York on the night of the win, the squad revelled in an open-top bus parade in Madrid with thousands in attendance.
With the new season now less than a month away, the players seem to have since split for their individual vacations before reporting back for work. So has Torres but he is not alone from the squad, with Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente joining him on the beaches of Ibiza.
The duo are part of a close knit group that has emerged in the Spanish camp recently. While Alex Baena and Marc Pubil are also part, Torres and Llorente’s bond seems to run much deeper, as reflected in their decision to vacation together.
However, snapshots from the duo’s time in Ibiza have raised certain questions. Torres and Llorente were pictured partying on a luxury yacht, sharing the same glass of wine, and swimming on the beaches together.
In one of those pictures, Llorente was set on the pier with Torres stood behind him. The Barcelona forward first wrapped his shoulders around his compatriot, before pulling Llorente towards him to plant a kiss on the cheek.
Their physical intimacy seems to have made fans uncomfortable. This is not the first time Torres has been caught on tape being so affectionate with his teammates. In the past, he has behaved similarly with club and country teammate Pedri.
Naturally, it has given birth to suggestions that Torres might be gay. With prior photos also showing him celebrating with Llorente privately in their hotel room, fans believe their relationship might exceed the realms of friendship.
“Increasingly believing that rumor that they got married and are on their honeymoon.”
Speculations of Torres being gay have gained particulra steam because it is unheard of in the men’s game. Across the gender aisle, however, there exist many openly gay women playing in European top flights in relationships with each other.
“First time I’m seeing this in Mens football it’s usually happens in the women’s football”
Whether Torres is gay or not, it is a given that over the years several gay footballers have had to spend entire careers and beyond in the closet. Only in 2023, Cagliari’s Czech defender Jakub Jankto became the first active male international footballer to come out as gay.
“Does anyone have a problem with that? I definitely don’t! Of course I understand. Football is a real macho sport, and many footballers are unfortunately very old-fashioned or intolerant. I’m sure some famous footballers are gay or bisexual, but they still don’t dare to come out…🤷🏼♀️”
Nevertheless, Torres and Llorente certainly won’t be adding to the openly gay footballers list. While Llorente welcomed his first child last year with longtime partner Patricia Noarbe, Torres in the present decade has been in relationships with influencer Martina Alguero and professional equestrian player Sira Martinez.
“They are not gay. Llorente is married and Ferrán has or had a girlfriend recently. Spanish men, in Spain, are a lot more prone to show affection, kisses and hugs are very normal, with everyone. We are social beings, not closeted square heads on Grindr. If they were, we’d know.”
Besides, if two men have earned the right to celebrate how they wish to, it is Llorente and Torres. Both played telling roles coming off the bench for Spain, ensuring Luis de la Fuente’s men kept ticking in crucial late moments of the game.
