Reason Spain defender Marc Cucurella refuses to cut or tie his hair
By Paulette Mboga, July 24, 2026Spain defender Marc Cucurella has explained why he has never cut or tied his famous curly hair after the world noticed his signature style during the 2026 FIFA World Cup that ended on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
During an interview, he was first asked about the moment Cristian Romero pulled his hair during a match before the conversation turned to his hairstyle. Cucurella said his hair is part of who he is.
When the interviewer asked if Cristian Romero pulling his hair had hurt, Cucurella answered before being asked another question about whether he planned to cut it. He made it clear that changing his hairstyle is not something he is considering. He said it is part of his identity.
“No, no, never, never. This is my style,” Marc Cucurella said.
His family’s autism journey
In recent weeks, social media users have been speculating about the reason behind Marc Cucurella’s signature hairstyle. Some posts have claimed that he refuses to cut or tie his famous curls because they help his autistic son, Mateo, recognise him during football matches. However, the claim has not been independently verified.
Cucurella and his partner, Claudia Rodríguez, have spoken publicly about raising their son Mateo, who is autistic. The couple has shared that the journey has brought many changes to their family. They explained that they have had to learn and adjust together.
“We had our months every day we went to drop Mateo off; I was pregnant with Rio as well. We used to go home crying every day. It is a lot of changes. It is hard for him. Mateo teaches us a lot as well. You have to think about Mateo a lot. The holidays are always difficult,” Claudia Rodríguez said.
Cucurella also explained that becoming a parent to an autistic child required him and his partner to learn many new things. He said they have continued to support their son while learning more about autism. He described it as an important part of their lives.
“Okay, the kid is autistic, but as parents we needed to learn a lot,” Marc Cucurella said.
In recent weeks, social media posts have claimed that Cucurella refuses to cut or tie his hair because it helps Mateo recognise him during football matches. The claim has been shared widely alongside stories about the family’s experience with autism.
However, there is no independently verified interview, official statement or documentary in which Cucurella says he keeps his hair untied for that reason. While he and his family have openly spoken about Mateo’s autism, Cucurella has publicly said he keeps his famous curls because they are his signature style. His hairstyle remains one of the most recognisable parts of his appearance on and off the football pitch.