This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Borja Iglesias, Spanish forward for Celta de Vigo, is a unique figure in football. With his painted nails, his activism against homophobia has left an indelible mark in Spain. In mid-January, hundreds of Celta de Vigo fans, both men and women, went to the stadium with painted nails in solidarity with the player. This gesture of support came days after the Spaniard was once again the target of a wave of homophobic insults on social media following a match against Sevilla. After stints at various clubs in La Liga and Bayer Leverkusen, the forward returned to his regional club a year and a half ago. Together with his friends and former Betis teammates, Héctor Bellerín and Aitor Ruibal, Iglesias has become one of the leading voices in Spanish football in the fight against homophobia. However, his activism does not stop there. The player, known as Panda, has also spoken out in favor of Palestine, against toxic masculinity, and in defense of women's football. In August 2023, he even announced his retirement from the Spanish national team in protest against the failure to dismiss Luis Rubiales, then president of the Federation, after he forcibly kissed player Jennifer Hermoso. With Rubiales' subsequent departure, Iglesias was called up again and may compete in the World Cup. The forward explained that he started painting his nails during the lockdown but initially feared the public's reaction. The turning point was the Black Lives Matter movement. "It marked me a lot. I then painted my nails black to give some visibility to that cause and combat racist thinking in Spain," he stated to L'Équipe, adding that he sees the gesture as a form of expression, similar to a haircut or a tattoo. Regarding the homophobic insults he regularly receives, Iglesias admits that at first, they affected him personally. However, his perspective has changed. "Being called gay is not something I consider an insult. When someone says that, I think they would be much happier being gay than being like them, full of hate," he declared. "What bothers me is that a gay person is afraid to come out because of this type of reaction. It is unacceptable not to be able to be who you are and love who you want." The Celta de Vigo forward also recalls the role of other footballers who challenged norms. "Players like David Beckham or Guti proposed different looks and a model of masculinity. They changed the image of football and helped us be freer," he said. The inability of gay footballers to come out is a topic that saddens the player, who remembers the case of Australian Josh Cavallo, who has complained about the homophobia he faces since coming out in 2021. "They must feel, and I understand very well, that if they spoke out, they would lose everything they have achieved," he laments, expressing hope that a "sufficiently healthy environment will be created so that everyone can do what they want without anyone judging their work for it." Although he feels that we are "closer than ever to that moment," the reality is that "unfortunately, we are still far away." The player feels that colleagues who defend positions he considers problematic do so "out of fear of losing what they have." He recalls an interview in which he stated that Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas generated more revenue than he did, which caused controversy in the locker room. "They told me: 'But you can't say that! It's not true!'" After a debate, the teammates ended up agreeing: "They are the last two Ballon d'Or winners, obviously, they have a greater impact than I do." This active stance brings with it a new responsibility: "Today, I feel the pressure to be some sort of avenger." The player also spoke about the salary issue in women's football, clarifying that the goal is not to take money away from men. "I realized that my teammates were afraid of being paid less if female footballers were paid more. But it wasn't about that! Women's football needs to get more money to develop its training and infrastructure," he argues, stating that greater investment will increase the attractiveness of the sport.
Borja Iglesias Celta de Vigo remains central to this story.
Borja Iglesias Celta de Vigo remains central to this story.
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