World champion Álex Baena comes home to Roquetas

The football champion’s first request back at his grandparents’ home was a plate of his grandmother’s macaroni. After 50 demanding days and a World Cup triumph, Roquetas-born Álex Baena was finally ready to switch off.

Baena brings the celebrations back to Roquetas

The 25-year-old Atlético de Madrid midfielder visited Roquetas Town Hall on Thursday July 23, four days after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final.

Baena signed the council’s Book of Honour and thanked the municipality for its support. He also gave Mayor Gabriel Amat a signed Spain shirt, adding another keepsake to celebrations that had begun thousands of kilometres away in the USA.

The Roquetas-born footballer started the final and played until the 75th minute. Victory also completed a unique international treble for Baena: Euro 2024, Olympic gold at Paris 2024 and the 2026 World Cup, all won consecutively.

Fifty intense days end with family time

Baena told Cadena SER that he was “very happy” to be back in Roquetas to rest and spend time with family and friends after a tournament that had taken a heavy physical and mental toll. He added that the scale of Spain’s achievement may only become clear once the players have had time to absorb it.

The local connection remained visible at the centre of Spain’s celebrations. Baena carried the Roquetas de Mar flag as the squad celebrated with the trophy, a habit he said reflects both pride in his hometown and a superstition followed since his first title.

Despite completing one of international football’s rarest runs of success, he is already looking further ahead. Baena said Spain would try to win another World Cup and European Championship, insisting the ambition to win must never be lost.

A public hometown welcome will follow

During the visit, Amat told Baena that the council’s governing team intends to propose him as Hijo Predilecto of Roquetas de Mar, the municipality’s highest honorary distinction. The proposal has not yet been formally approved but is expected to go forward.  The council and player are also seeking a date for a public reception, giving local supporters a chance to congratulate their world champion in person. Baena is expected to be presented with the city’s Gold Shield at that event. The distinction itself was granted by mayoral decree in July 2024, after Spain’s European Championship victory, but its formal presentation remains pending.

For now, the fixture list has briefly been replaced by family, friends and some familiar home cooking before Baena returns to Atlético Madrid duty.