GUWAHATI: Nine years ago, two teenage footballers quietly warmed up at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati, dreaming of global glory.
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On Sunday night, both stood at the pinnacle of world football as Spain lifted the FIFA World Cup.
Ferran Torres, who scored the decisive extra-time winner against Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, and Eric García, who was involved in the post-match altercation after Spain's victory, were both members of Spain's FIFA U-17 World Cup squad that played in Guwahati in 2017.
Ferran's 106th-minute strike sealed Spain's 1-0 victory and the country's second World Cup title, while Eric found himself at the centre of ugly scenes after the final whistle when Argentina's Leandro Paredes grabbed him by the throat.
For Guwahati, the connection is special.
The duo trained and warmed up at Sarusajai Stadium during the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where Spain impressed throughout the tournament before finishing runners-up after a 5-2 defeat to England in the final.
Ferran Torres scored twice during that tournament, while Eric García marshalled the Spanish defence as the team reached the final.
Both have since built impressive club careers.
Ferran Torres emerged from Valencia CF's academy, moved to Manchester City, and now plays for FC Barcelona, becoming one of Spain's leading forwards.
Eric García, a product of La Masia, developed at Manchester City before returning to FC Barcelona, where he has established himself as a dependable central defender.
For football fans in Assam, the memories are priceless. The teenagers who once trained and warmed up on the turf of Sarusajai Stadium have now become FIFA World Cup winners, offering a reminder that Guwahati witnessed the early steps of two future world champions long before they conquered football's biggest stage.