Marc Cucurella gave his local postman one of the more unusual deliveries of his career, letting him try on the World Cup winners’ medal the Spain defender collected last month in the United States.
Postman Gary shared the encounter on Horsham’s social media account after completing his round. “Had the pleasure of chatting to local World Cup winner Marc Cucurella while delivering his post today,” he wrote. “Very nice, down-to-earth guy. Let me hold his winners’ medal. I reckon I am the first Englishman to hold a World Cup winners’ medal in 60 years.”
The post drew widespread praise from fans. “The biggest and greatest accolade for any football player. And he was kind enough to share that,” one commenter wrote. Another called it “amazing stuff” and said Cucurella “sounds like a really nice guy.” A third added: “Amazing. We keep hearing great things and sorry to be losing him. Wishing him the best of luck in his new adventures.”
Cucurella, 28, has lived in the West Sussex market town for several years. He relocated there after a previous home was targeted by burglars shortly after his 2023 transfer to Chelsea, and locals have frequently praised his approachable manner on social media. He and his family became regulars at children’s school events and the local Indian restaurant Hen and Chicken.
The postman encounter is among his last in Horsham. Cucurella is joining Real Madrid in a £47.4 million deal, and his partner Claudia Rodriguez has spoken openly about the sadness of leaving. “I don’t know how to say goodbye to my home,” she posted on Instagram after the transfer was announced. “I arrived with two babies and I’m leaving with two little boys and a British girl, and I don’t know how I’m going to explain to them that Chelsea is no longer part of our lives.”
Cucurella, pictured with a new braided hairstyle in place of his signature curls, has been marking his World Cup win in other ways too, having tattooed the face of Spain manager Luis de la Fuente on his body following the tournament.
