Marc Cucurella’s 2026 season is close to perfection.

An undisputed first-team regular for the Spanish national side that lifted the World Cup, a brand-new signing for Real Madrid and nominated for the Ballon d'Or award for the first time in his career.

On the pitch, his presence is unmistakable: a head of flowing hair, tireless intensity and a tactical aggression that wears down any opposing winger.

However, behind the figure who is taking Europe by storm, there is a much quieter and more profound side that explains his emotional maturity.

Home comes before the pitch

There are two sides to Cucurella: Cucurella the footballer and Cucurella the father. And the difference between the two is stark.

On the pitch, he needs high energy levels, hyperactivity and constant physical battles, whilst at home he is required to adopt a completely opposite approach.

Raising his son, who is on the autism spectrum, has transformed his daily life into a constant exercise in serenity, self-regulation and empathy.

Home is not just his place of rest. It is now the space where the 90 minutes of professional tension are completely erased. Pushed into the background.

A lesson in perspective

His eldest son, Mateo, was diagnosed with Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) when he was 3 years old.

ASD is a ‘neurodevelopmental’ disorder and affects the way a child thinks, moves, speaks or behaves on a day-to-day basis.

This diagnosis changed the family’s priorities.

In interviews with media outlets such as ‘DAZN’ and ‘El País’, Cucurella himself has spoken openly about the impact of this reality on his life.

“My son has taught me to prioritise the things that really matter. When football isn’t going well or things get complicated, you come home and he doesn’t care whether you’ve won or lost; he just wants you to be with him. That brings you back down to earth and makes you realise that real life is the one you have at home with your family,” he said on ‘RTVE’.

This perspective on everyday life enabled him to build a sort of mental shield against the demands of sport.

Media criticism, mistakes on the pitch and the pressure of big matches ceased to be a burden. As he put it in comments reported by ‘The Athletic’.

“You come home frustrated after a bad match or because things aren’t going your way on the pitch, but you walk through the door and your children don’t know whether you’ve won, lost or played well. To them, you’re just their dad. That makes you switch off instantly and realise what really matters in life,” he summarised.

The mental anchor to the top

Stability at home and emotional resilience had a direct positive impact on his game.

By losing his fear of making mistakes and putting the pressure into perspective, Cucurella unleashed the best version of himself.

Ultimately, his story shows that success does not depend solely on victories or on what happens on the pitch.

An athlete’s true strength is cultivated at home, by learning to value what really matters when the referee blows the final whistle.

“I’m very pleased that, through the power of visualisation, this story resonates and helps more families, leading to the opening of more schools or support centres. For me, it has helped me to recognise and prioritise what is truly important and what isn’t,” summarised Cucurella.

A great life lesson.