EXCLUSIVE: The father of Spain’s World Cup final scorer is pictured for the first time after his death was kept a secret from her while she scored the winning goal against England
- Spanish World Cup heroine Olga Carmona learned that her father had died after the game
- He lost the fight for his life the day before Sunday’s game, but she didn’t know it
- On Monday afternoon, he was named as businessman Tomas Carmona Mena
This is the first photo of the late father of the Spanish World Cup winning goalscorer.
Olga Carmona learned that her beloved father had passed away after the final whistle blew after Sunday’s final against England.
It later transpired that he had lost his fight for life the day before she took the field after a short illness and that the rest of her family had kept his death a secret from the left-back until after the game.
On Monday, he was named as businessman Tomas Carmona Mena when his relatives revealed how proud he was of his daughter’s football achievements.
Mail sports may reveal that the father of three, also father to 23-year-old Olga’s two footballer brothers Fran and Tomas, was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago.
This is the first image of the late father of Spain’s World Cup winning goalscorer Olga Carmona
On Monday, he was named as businessman Tomas Carmona Mena, who nearly bought Levante in 2008, when his relatives revealed how proud he was of his daughter’s football achievements.
Carmona scored the winning goal in a 1-0 World Cup final against England on Sunday
Tomas’s cousin Jesus Carmona, Olga’s cousin, told respected Spanish website El Espanol: “He watched all the games until Friday when he got a lot worse.”
Tomas reportedly divorced Olga’s mother, also called Olga after their daughter, about 20 years ago and had moved from Seville, where his ex still lives, to Malaga.
Although he did not see his daughter on a daily basis, they would have kept in touch and Tomas occasionally returned to Seville to watch her play.
He also celebrated some of her memorable football moments on social media, including the games she played for current club Real Madrid.
Jesus said: ‘He was very proud of all his children, but especially of his daughter.
“We are all Real Madrid supporters in the family.”
In an emotionally charged post on X, formerly known as Twitter, after learning of her father’s death after Sunday’s game, Olga compared him to a star who looked down on her as she played.
“Unbeknownst to me, I had my star before the game started,” she wrote.
“I know you’ve given me the strength to accomplish something unique.”
“I know you watched me tonight and you’re proud of me. Rest in peace daddy.’
In a second post earlier today, confirming she would join her teammates in the Cup celebration in Madrid, she added: “I have no words to thank you for all your support.
“Today was the best and worst day of my life.
“I know you would like to see me enjoy this historic moment and that is why I will be with my teammates so that you know that wherever you are, this star is yours too, Dad.”