Who is Elena G. Durán, the DAZN reporter making Spain’s ‘los puñitos’ content go viral? | OneFootball

Elena G. Durán has become a distinctive presence in Spain’s 2026 World Cup coverage, favouring warmth over formality. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the DAZN reporter builds content around close interactions with players, their families and the wider camp.

Her calling card is ‘los puñitos’, a fist-bump ritual paired with handing out sweets. After the match against France, players waited for her, and for the treats.

The simple gesture cuts the usual distance between reporter and footballer, prompting lighter, more relaxed exchanges. Topics often wander beyond football, from favourite anime to pizza orders.

That tone has revealed a less stiff side of Spain’s internationals during World Cup camp. Her pieces flit between brief interviews, viral snippets and everyday portraits, with players chatting about tastes, in-jokes, gifts and personal details.

In recent weeks she has also interviewed relatives and shared notable moments with some of the squad’s biggest names. She has handed gifts to Lamine Yamal and Luis de la Fuente.

Marcos Llorente even gave her the sunglasses he was wearing as a birthday present. Her exchange with Unai Simón went viral when, after Spain reached the final, the goalkeeper returned the fist-bump and offered her a sweet.

The formula lands strongly on social platforms because it privileges personality over soundbites. It mirrors a wider shift in sports media, blending information and entertainment without losing access. DAZN has in Durán a conduit to younger audiences, with short, surprising pieces that draw millions of daily views.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo