Ferran Torres’ feet have barely touched the grount since he made his La Liga debut in 2017. In that time, he’s made more than 100 league appearances across two countries, won the Premier League and played 23 times for Spain. Earlier this year, his career entered a new phase as he joined Barcelona to spearhead Xavi’s revolution at the Catalan club. Not bad considering he only turned 22 in February.

Despite this rapid rise, Torres has gone out of his way to keep himself grounded. The Spanish forward has a tattoo of an anchor on his foot, chosen to represent the strength of his mindset, and how it will keep him from sinking under pressure. The tattoo also reminds Torres of how far he’s come in his football career. “I’ve been incredibly lucky in my life,” he tells HYPEBEAST. “My skills on the football pitch have given me opportunities that I could have only dreamed of as a young boy. I am grateful every day for that and feel a responsibility to use my influence to do good for others.”

Torres has been leveraging his status as one of football’s rising stars and the global audience it brings with it to shine a light on issues surrounding sustainability and climate change. The 22-year-old is a founding partner of Kick Out Plastic, a revolutionary non-profit organization that aims to eradicate single-use plastics.

“I’m focussed on doing whatever I can with my influence to better the world and provide a sustainable future for the next generation,” Torres continues. “I know it’s easier said than done, and many fans will ask what I’m doing myself to make changes. For me, it starts by getting the word out there. I’m doing what I can to shine a light on sustainability – and how to eradicate plastics from mass consumer consumption.” As well as using his platform to raise awareness, Torres also recently worked with Homme to launch a sustainable deodorant. That firm is now challenging others to pledge to zero waste and offer a sustainable future.

“I want fashion products, deodorants and wider consumer goods to be plastic free, but we can all get involved in enacting change by making small changes to our own habits” Torres says of the campaign, also pointing to another of his interests. “This is what drives me with my interest in fashion too. I grew up with a culture that made me feel like looking good and taking pride in my appearance was important. But it’s not about designer labels. I want my typically smart, casual look to be effortless. I’ll never be the guy demanding the most expensive and outrageous football boots at the club – I’m more modest than that. But looking smart in my sportswear allows me to feel comfortable in my own skin – with the confidence to take on my projects on and off the football pitch.”

“I’m focussed on doing whatever I can with my influence to better the world and provide a sustainable future for the next generation.”

Torres’ current project is his role in the rebuild at Barcelona, who he joined from Manchester City at the start of the year. The club has turned a corner since the appointment of Xavi in late 2021, with the recent El Clásico victory a highlight in its new run of form. Torres has cemented himself as a central figure in this project, as proven by his goal in the 4-0 win over Real Madrid last month.

Torres insists it is a privilege to have been “adopted” by the fans and says it feels “fantastic” to be among the new, young and evolving squad learning from the old guard. “I’m proud to represent Barca. I want to fight for the team knowing the fans are behind me. We want to finish the season strong and achieve great things going forward.”