Sometimes the internet decides that an animal looks uncannily like a famous celebrity, and the comparison takes on a life of its own as it becomes a meme, such as the famous “Phil Foden Cat Lookalike.”
That phenomenon is exactly what happened yet again, this time with a tabby cat wearing a curly black wig that bears a striking resemblance to Spanish footballer Marc Cucurella.
Known as the “Marc Cucurella Cat” meme, the viral video has become a favorite reaction image and GIF among many football and soccer fans, enjoying a massive resurgence during the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Spain captured the trophy.
So, where exactly did the meme come from, and who made it? Why did it become so popular to the point where Google even made a special Easter egg for it? Let’s explain.
Where Does The ‘Marc Cucurella Cat’ Meme Come From?
The meme originated on July 5th, 2025, when TikTok user welcometolevusch uploaded a short video styled as a POV meme, captioned, “POV: Your cat is a Cucurella Fan.”
In the clip, a classic tabby cat sits on a windowsill wearing a large curly wig, making it resemble Spanish footballer Marc Cucurella and his iconic hair.
The video quickly went viral, earning millions of views and likes and inspiring its creator to post behind-the-scenes footage showing how the wig was placed on the cat, followed by additional videos featuring the now-famous feline.
As the meme’s virality continued to grow, the creator even launched a dedicated TikTok account centered entirely around the “Cucurella Cat.”
How Is The ‘Marc Cucurella Cat’ Meme Used?
Over the following year, the video spread across social media as users turned the cat into different reaction images, GIFs and exploitable edits by dressing it in different football club kits or inserting it into new scenarios.
The meme was even referenced by fellow professional footballer Enzo Fernandez and covered by sports media shortly after its initial rise in mid-2025.
Its biggest surge in popularity came during the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Marc Cucurella played a key role in Spain’s championship run.
Fans widely shared GIFs and images of the cat throughout the tournament, including one featuring the feline wearing a Real Madrid kit that amassed hundreds of millions of views and another showing Cucurella lifting the cat version of himself into the air after giving it a kiss.
Following Spain’s victory in the World Cup final, Google Search then added an Easter egg for users searching Marc Cucurella’s name, displaying the cat at the bottom of the page waving a Spanish flag.
The meme also inspired AI-generated edits, jokes and renewed interest in the original TikTok, cementing the Cucurella Cat as one of the tournament’s defining memes as it came to a close.
What Are Some Examples Of ‘Cucurella Cat’ Memes?
For the full history of the Marc Cucurella Cat meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme’s encyclopedia entry for even more information.
Read the original article on Know Your Meme.
