
Alvaro Morata (foto: Getty Images)
Alvaro Morata received death threats after his penalty miss in Spain’s Nations League final loss to Portugal. His wife condemned the abuse and urged fans to show respect and humanity.
Alvaro Morata has been targeted with death threats and hate messages following his penalty miss in the Nations League final, sparking outrage and concern over the treatment of players online.
The Spain captain missed a crucial spot-kick during the shootout loss to Portugal, which ended 2-2 in regular time before Ruben Neves converted the winning penalty for Cristiano Ronaldo's side.
Morata’s wife, Alice Campello, took to Instagram to expose the abuse, sharing screenshots of disturbing messages and writing: "Do we realise we're talking about a football match?"
She continued: "In life, we all make mistakes... Please, have respect and stop being such mean people." Her emotional plea urged fans to recognise football as a game—not a reason to dehumanise players.
Morata has spoken openly about past mental health struggles, including depression and panic attacks during his time at Atletico Madrid. He moved to AC Milan in 2024 and spent the latter half of the season on loan at Galatasaray.
After the final, a visibly emotional Morata said: "I'm leaving angry. I wanted to cry, even though I didn't. My children were in the stands... It's possible I won’t be back in September." The striker is now considering retirement from international duty.
Spain begin their World Cup qualification campaign in September against Bulgaria, but it remains to be seen whether Morata will return to La Roja’s setup.