Spanish goalkeeper Alberto Lejárraga believes the next step for football is not simply encouraging more players to come out.
He says the sport itself must become a place where everyone feels safe enough to be themselves.
Lejárraga shared that message during Madrid Pride while appearing on Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE.
His television appearance came just days after speaking with Outsports about life, marriage and visibility in men’s football.
The goalkeeper made history last year when he married his husband, singer Rubén Fernández, while continuing his professional playing career.
He is widely regarded as the only publicly out active player in Spain’s men’s professional football system.
The couple first attracted international attention in 2023 when Lejárraga shared a photograph of them kissing after his club secured promotion.
The image quickly spread around the world and became a symbol of LGBTQ+ visibility in a sport where openly queer male players remain extremely rare.
Looking back, Lejárraga says he now feels “completely free.”
He credits both his husband and growing public acceptance for giving him the confidence to live openly.
During his Pride interview, however, he stressed that visibility alone is not enough.
He argued that discussions should move beyond hoping another player comes out.
Instead, clubs, coaches, federations, teammates and supporters all have a responsibility to create environments where nobody feels they must hide who they are.
Lejárraga also acknowledged that homophobic language remains common within football.
He said recent political debates have made some LGBTQ+ people feel less secure despite the progress that has been made.
Even so, he remains optimistic about the future.
He points to allies within Spanish football who have publicly spoken against homophobia and believes those voices are helping change the culture.
For Lejárraga, success is no longer measured only by results on the pitch.
It is also measured by whether future generations of footballers can play the game they love without ever feeling they have to hide who they are.
📷 @albertoleja
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