The very mention of the term Spanish man might bring to your mind the image of a hulking and handsome Antonio Banderas, or the sexy and brooding singer Enrique Iglesias, but do you know that Spain has also been the home to intelligent and intellectual men like Camilo José Cela and Miguel Delibes? Spanish men are often perceived to be good looking and romantic, but also lazy and flirtatious. Just how true are these stereotypes? The Spanish are by no means lazy—infact Spaniards work longer hours than most Europeans. Spanish men don’t run away from work, what they try to avoid is convention and adhering to the set norms in any field.
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Rafael Nadal is considered to be one of the greatest tennis players ever and is called the king of clay. The Spanish national has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles and holds the record of winning 13 French Open Championships. He also has one Australian Open, two Wimbledon and four US Open titles to his name.
Pablo Picasso was a renowned artist whose paintings sell by millions of dollars at auctions even today, many years after his death. With masterful strokes, attractive shades and rich textures, Picasso created some of the most visually impressive arts of the 20th century. While exploring new styles and experimenting with different techniques, Picasso co-founded Cubist art style and co-invented collage.
A football addict from beginning, Pep Guardiola went on to become a key player with the Barcelona and the Spanish National team. He played a crucial role in winning major titles like the La Liga and an Olympic gold medal. After retiring as a player, he became a coach and is widely regarded as one of the world's best coaches.
Salvador Dali was a Spanish artist best remembered for his precise draftsmanship and technical skills. His artwork is famous for depicting bizarre and striking images. In spite of producing brilliant artworks, Dali's ostentatious and eccentric public behavior often overshadowed his professional achievements, much to the irritation of his fans and critics. His works have influenced other artists like Jeff Koons.
Kane is an American wrestler, actor, businessman, politician, and author. Apart from being the Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, Kane is also one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of all time. He played an important role in popularizing WWE's Attitude Era throughout the late-1990s and early-2000s. He is regarded by some as the best wrestler of his generation.
Spanish actor, Javier Bardem, is an acclaimed artist and has worked in notable films like Skyfall, Love in the Time of Cholera, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Mother and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. He has also acted in numerous Spanish movies. He won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the 2007 film No Country for Old Men.
One of the most celebrated actors of Hollywood, Martin Sheen has won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes. Best known to fans as Captain Benjamin Willard from Apocalypse Now, he has also been involved in countless protests against nuclear power and strongly opposes abortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia.
Two-time FIA Hall of Fame inductee Fernando Alonso began go-carting at age 3 and won several trophies by 10. The youngest to win the F-1 World Championship, for Renault, he later led a Ferrari team. When he isn’t racing, he is busy managing his e-sports team and working for UNICEF.
One of the most popular Spanish singer-songwriters of all time, Enrique Iglesias is widely known as the King of Latin Pop. Having sold more than 180 million records worldwide, Enrique Iglesias is among the best-selling Latin music artists list. He often uses his popularity to help raise funds to benefit humanitarian organizations like the American Red Cross.
Spanish footballer, Sergio Ramos, is known for his defensive skills and also for his ability to play offensively and score goals. He plays for the Premier League Club, Real Madrid. Ramos was a member of the Spanish national side which won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2010.
One of the most popular Spanish-American actors of all time, Antonio Banderas has made a name for himself in Hollywood. Apart from being a successful actor, he is also an accomplished businessman. A perfume industry veteran, Antonio Banderas has been working with the fragrance and beauty company Puig for several years and is the brand's most popular representative.
Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué, who plays for FC Barcelona, is considered one of the world’s best centre halves. He is amongst the few players who have won the UEFA Champions League for two consecutive years, but for different teams. He also played a crucial role in the Spain national team’s victory in 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012.
Francisco Franco overthrew the Second Spanish Republic by leading the Nationalist forces as their general during the Spanish Civil War. Subsequently, Franco ruled over Spain as a dictator from 1939 to 1975. He had such an impact as a dictator that the period between the Nationalist victory and Franco's death is known as Francoist Spain in the history of Spain.
Fernando Torres is a former football player whose ability to score goals earned him a reputation as one of the best goal-scorers in the world. He helped his Spanish football team win their first FIFA World Cup in 2010. Such is his popularity in Spain that a stadium was built in his honor in Fuenlabrada, Spain, in 2011.
Spanish explorer and conquistador Juan Ponce de León was the first governor of Puerto Rico but had to give away the governorship to Christopher Columbus's son, Diego. Juan led the first European expedition to Florida. He was knighted by King Ferdinand but died in an attempt to colonize coastal U.S.
Charles II of Spain reigned as the king of Spain from 1665 to 1700. He was the last king from the House of Habsburg to rule the Spanish Empire. Despite suffering from many illnesses throughout his life, Charles proved to be a reasonably influential king. The town of Charleroi and the Caroline Islands in modern Belgium were named after Charles.
Cesc Fàbregas is a Spanish football player. Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders, Fàbregas played a key role in helping his national team win its first FIFA World Cup in 2010; his pass to Andrés Iniesta in the world cup final was converted into a goal, which gave Spain its first title.
Spanish-German actor Daniel Brühl began his career with the soap Verbotene Liebe. Raised trilingual, he is now fluent in six languages. Hollywood knows him best as Fredrick Zoller from Inglourious Basterds, while he first made waves with the German film Good Bye, Lenin! He later co-owned two bars.
Miguel de Cervantes was a Spanish writer best known for his work Don Quixote, which is considered one of the high points of world literature. He is regarded as one of the greatest novelists of all time and the greatest writer to ever write in the Spanish language. His works have influenced other works of art like music and paintings.
Diego Costa is a professional football player who helped Atlético Madrid win a UEFA Super Cup, Copa del Rey title, and La Liga title. Costa is one of the few footballers to have represented two international teams, having played for the Brazil national team and Spain national team; he played for the latter at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.
Keylor Navas is a Costa Rican football player. Navas is an important member of the Costa Rica national team and Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. He helped his national team reach the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2009, where he was named the best goalkeeper. He is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish Basque Catholic priest and theologian in the 16th century. He was one of the founders of the religious order called the Society of Jesus and served as its first Superior General at Paris. He was an inspired spiritual director and the founder of what is today known as "Ignatian spirituality."
Pedro Almodovar is a Spanish screenwriter, filmmaker, and former actor. Regarded as one of the most successful Spanish filmmakers of all time, Almodovar has two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and five British Academy Film Awards under his belt. His films are characterized by complex narratives, irreverent humor, and great music.
Best known as Mateo Santos from All My Children and as Hiram Lodge from Riverdale, Mark Consuelos was born to an Italian mother and a Mexican father in Spain. He began his career as a dancer and then stepped into soap operas. He is an avid sports lover, too.
Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador best remembered for his expeditions that eventually paved the way for the Spanish conquest of Peru. Along with Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Pizarro became the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean after crossing the Isthmus of Panama. After two failed expeditions to Peru, Pizarro led a third and successful campaign to conquer Peru.
Best known to fans as The Professor from the iconic Spanish series La Casa De Papel, or Money Heist, has won several awards for the role. He overcame cancer in his 30s. The father of twins is now a co-owner of the Spanish theater company 300 Pistolas.
Unconventional, even eccentric, the famous artist Pablo Picasso is a fine example of a Spanish man. He not only co-founded the cubist movement but also revolutionized 20th century art. Again it was a Spaniard Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra who wrote ‘Don Quixote’, considered to be among the greatest works of fiction ever produced. Spanish men have also deeply influenced the world of science and technology. Ignacio Barraquer was a pioneer in cataract surgery while the Nobel Prize laureate Santiago Ramón y Cajal is considered to be the father of neuroscience. Browse this site to learn more about the various famous Spanish men who made this world a better place.
