India, July 20 -- Nine years before his dramatic 106th-minute volley crowned Spain world champions at the New York New Jersey Stadium, a 17-year-old Ferran Torres was standing on the turf of the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, weeping through heartbreak.

Long before his name dominated global headlines as Spain's World Cup hero against Argentina, the Barcelona forward experienced his first taste of World Cup final drama right on Indian soil.

The Kolkata Heartbreak of 2017

In October 2017, India hosted its historic first-ever FIFA tournament, the U17 World Cup. Torres, then a promising Valencia youth academy product, was an essential fixture on Spain's right wing. He starred throughout the competition, scoring a critical g...