Sawt Falasteen - Iglesias -- Spanish World Cup striker unafraid to speak out about injustice

But the 33-year-old Celta Vigo striker — a World Cup squad member and reliable cover should Spain's first-choice forwards falter — says the game is full of players like him. We just never hear from them.

"The reality is I do not think footballers should be pigeon-holed," Iglesias told AFP.

"There are an enormous amount of different people, of ways of understanding our profession, our life — and I meet more footballers who are atypical than you'd think."

In 2020, Iglesias painted his nails black following the murder of African-American George Floyd by a policeman in Minneapolis.

He said the gesture was intended to highlight how "very often you can have sexist, macho, racist and homophobic thoughts. This served as a statement about that".

Iglesias, who was a member of the Bayer Leverkusen side that went unbeaten through the 2023-24 campaign in securing the domestic double, said he understood why he was seen as being different.

"It is because I do not mince my words when I speak," he said.

"Sometimes I believe that we are very scared of saying what we think because of the impact it could have.

"I also had this fear. But suddenly it dawned on me nothing serious will happen when you say what you think."

Iglesias, who has eight caps to his name since making his debut in 2022, said he broke the psychological barrier when he realised he felt better when he got things off his chest.

"It was a case of trial and error," he said.

"Because I had a hunger to speak out rather than hold my tongue.

"I felt that for me personally it did me good to speak and be who I really am."

- 'Battle for inclusivity' -

US president Donald Trump's immigration policies have attracted a lot of criticism but Iglesias says the American head of state is not unique in that respect.

"I came here to play at the World Cup," he said.

"However, the reality is that there are things taking place here which do not please me.

"But that is also the case in Spain.

"As regards being a footballer, if we contribute towards making sure these never happen again, little by little things will get better.

"That is one way of thinking.

"Obviously, I would adore to change lots of things, but it is not easy."

Iglesias, who says human rights, respect and inclusivity are matters that touch him deeply, has been vocal about hompohobia.

He has suffered for that, he was subjected to homophobic chanting after a La Liga match with Sevilla last season.

Iglesias, who is heterosexual, was supported by around 5,000 Celta supporters, coaching staff and the club president, who painted their nails black in solidarity with him at the next home match.

"It is a battle for inclusivity," said Iglesias referring to his calling out of homophobia.

"That anyone can be who they want to be.

"That you can please who you want, have sexual relations with who you want.

"I think I am not saying anything out of the ordinary, it should be normal to say such things."

Iglesias, who earned the nickname Panda, the title of a rap song, laughs when he is asked whether he considers himself the striker for all struggles.

"All of them, no... I would not have the strength," he said.

"But if I see something which does not please me or I find unfair, yes, I will try to put across my point of view, thanks to the impact we can have in our profession."

P.Tamimi--SF-PST