Barcelona’s own Jack Grealish: the nickname spread like wildfire across Spanish social media, though the player in question was nowhere near the pitch when he earned it. During what was meant to be a joyous and dignified parade celebrating a historic domestic treble, one star unintentionally became the headline act — falling off the team bus during the citywide La Liga celebrations in truly bizarre fashion.
The Blaugrana’s victory parade through the heart of Catalonia drew an estimated 700,000 ecstatic supporters as the club basked in the glory of their La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup triumphs. The players were euphoric, the fans were louder than ever, and the energy across the city was electric.
But amid the chants, music, and confetti, a sudden commotion at the rear of the open-top team bus drew all eyes. As the evening sunlight faded, one Barca defender attempted to descend from the upper platform of the bus — holding the Super Cup trophy in one hand — but misjudged his footing. He tumbled forward, crashing onto the lower level and nearly pulling Dani Olmo down with him.
The fall was dramatic but, thankfully, not serious. Both players avoided injury, and after a few stunned moments, laughter erupted across the vehicle and into the crowd. The mysterious figure at the heart of the chaos? None other than Inigo Martinez.
Unlikely star of the parade
Martinez, 32, has enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career since joining Barcelona, becoming a rock in defense and making 45 appearances across all competitions. His contributions did not go unnoticed, with Marca rating him a 9 out of 10, trailing only Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha.
But on this night, the Spaniard’s on-pitch reputation took a back seat to his off-the-pitch antics. Draped in regional symbolism — an ikurrina flag around his shoulders and the Catalan estelada in hand — he embraced the parade with full emotion. Wearing a jersey from his hometown club Ondarroa Arraun Elkartea, he danced, waved, and celebrated with a visible pride in his heritage.
The incident, while humorous to many, sparked a ripple of criticism online. “Many Spanish national team supporters called for him not to represent La Roja again,” one outlet noted, in reference to the politically charged imagery. But those debates aside, Martinez’s parade moment — and his exuberance — made him an unexpected star of the evening.
Back on his feet by nightfall
Remarkably, Martinez showed no signs of embarrassment. He bounced back almost instantly and was later seen, shirtless and jubilant, still waving to fans and posing with the trophies. “He got back up laughing, much to the amusement of his teammates and fans,” reported Marca, who went on to cheekily label him “Barcelona’s Jack Grealish” — a nod to the Englishman’s own unforgettable Premier League title celebrations.
Dani Olmo, who narrowly avoided becoming a co-victim of the tumble, laughed off the incident. The camaraderie between teammates remained strong, as players and staff soaked in the achievement and the adoration of the fans.
