Barcelona angered a large segment of its fans after posting a composite image on its official social media accounts, designed using artificial intelligence, featuring nine graduates of the "La Masia" academy who will participate in the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for Sunday, in a new showcase of the Barça academy's success in producing stars.

The image included Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí, Dani Olmo, Eric García, Alejandro Grimaldo, Marc Cucurella, and Víctor Muñoz, with eight players for Spain and one player for the Argentine national team, Messi.

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However, the image sparked widespread interaction among Barcelona fans, with many supporters demanding the removal of Marc Cucurella from it, despite him being a La Masia graduate, due to his recent move to traditional rival Real Madrid.

Cucurella is a product of the Blaugrana academy, having joined La Masia in 2012 from Espanyol, progressing through the youth categories until reaching the reserve team. He also played one match with the first team in the Copa del Rey before being loaned to Eibar in the summer of 2018.

The left-back then moved to Getafe, then had two stints in the Premier League with Brighton and Chelsea, before returning this summer to La Liga through Real Madrid.

🏡❗️Barça boasts about La Masia players in the World Cup final 📲After seeing the nine players, including Cucurella, social media users have called for his removal from the image, despite him being a La Masia graduate, due to his recent signing for Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/3bsRI70wZc — Diario SPORT (@sport) July 18, 2026