Spain's Borja Iglesias Weeps After Coach's Message Following World Cup Debut

Spain striker Borja Iglesias made his long-awaited World Cup debut in the closing minutes of Spain's victory over Portugal. The 33-year-old Celta de Vigo forward entered the pitch late, managing only a few sprints and a lost ball. After the match, he received an emotional WhatsApp from his club coach, Claudio Giráldez, that reduced him to tears.

Key points:

• Iglesias debuted in the final moments of Spain's win against Portugal, touching the ball once and losing it. Source: ABC
• Giráldez's message praised Iglesias for his character and effort, not just the debut itself: "Enhorabuena por tu debut, pero no solo por jugar un Mundial, sino por cómo lo has hecho y el tipo de persona que eres." Source: Infobae/EFE
• Iglesias admitted: "Estuve llorando un buen rato" after reading the message. Source: Infobae/EFE
• He also shared Giráldez's philosophy: "El fútbol os ha enseñado que tenéis que jugar siempre y la realidad es que no." Source: ABC

Iglesias reflected on the support from teammates and the importance of being ready to contribute, even with limited minutes. He also discussed Spain's quarterfinal struggles in past World Cups, noting that winning is difficult and often a matter of luck. Source: Infobae/EFE