Just in: Real Madrid’s new signing will keep a remarkable 28-year World Cup tradition alive | OneFootball

The last day of the FIFA World Cup is upon us, and it will be a special night as Argentina and Spain lock horns for the ultimate title in football.

Real Madrid’s biggest stars Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham were both just one win away from featuring in the finale, but both fell short in the semifinals to the aforementioned finalists.

There will, however, still be a representative for Real Madrid in the clash later tonight as Marc Cucurella will start for Spain.

The player has indeed not been presented as a new Real Madrid player yet, but the announcement of his transfer was made before Spain debuted in the event.

A special streak goes on

As brought to light by Diario AS, Real Madrid will have a representative in the final later today and that ensures that a very special streak continues.

Cucurella will be Real Madrid’s representative at the World Cup final. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Since the World Cup in 1998, there has always been a Real Madrid player featuring in the pinnacle clash of the premier international tournament – a record that has now been maintained for 28 years.

The last time Real Madrid did not have a representative in the final was in 1994 when Brazil beat Italy. Even the previous edition, in 1990, did not see any representation from the club in the final.

Who have been the representatives?

In 1998, Christian Karembeu featured in the final and helped France win the tournament as a Real Madrid representative.

Four years later, the tradition was carried forward by Roberto Carlos who featured in the final for Brazil and ended up on the winning side.

Zinedine Zidane was the club’s infamous representative in the 2006 final – where he went on to be red carded in for a famous headbutt and which his side eventually lost.

Zidane represented the club in the 2006 World Cup final. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

In 2010, Real Madrid had five representatives in the final won by Spain as Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Raul Albiol all were in the team for the final.

Sami Khedira and Angel Di Maria ensured bilateral representation for the club in 2014, and Toni Kroos also played a part although he was still contracted to Bayern Munich at the time.

Four years later, Raphael Varane and Luka Modric again ensured Real Madrid featured on both sides of the final.

Most recently, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga both featured in the final of the 2022 edition, and Cucurella now keeps that tradition alive.