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Spaniards leading a national surge in global business and politics, culture and the arts. As the country prepares for a pivotal election, TIME examines its striking creative burst
Spain’s national football team has a reputation for choking in the big tournaments, but the country boasts some of the world’s biggest clubs—Real Madrid, F.C. Barcelona, Deportivo La Coruña. The Primera Liga, as the top-tier professional league is known, is a net importer of soccer superstars, but there’s no dearth of homegrown talent.
One of the brightest of the new generation is Fernando Torres, 19, striker for Atlético de Madrid. El Niño (above) was named by TV soccer program Estudio Estadio as scorer of the most spectacular goal of the first half of the 2003-04 season: a midair volley that outdid anything by Zinédine Zidane, David Beckham, Luis Figo or Ronaldo.
Among Spain’s finest exports is Antonio Reyes, 20; in January, England’s Arsenal shelled out some €25 million to buy him from Sevilla. Reyes scored an own goal in his first outing, but made up for it two weeks later, with two crucial goals against mighty Chelsea. The new chant in the terraces of Arsenal’s Highbury stadium: Olé!
Divide And Conquer [Mar. 1, 2004]
Basque terrorist group ETA throws a "message bomb" into the Spanish general-election campaign
Death Coast [Dec 2, 2002]
After an aging tanker sins off Spain, a vast slick of fuel oil destroys beaches, wildlife and fishermen's dreams. Could this disaster have been prevented?
They Came To Reign in Spain [Sep. 27, 2002]
You wait for a major sporting competition to come along, and three show up at the same time.
A Meeting Of Minds [Jul. 15, 2002]
European Union leaders meet in Seville to look for common ground on everything
Gaudí Mania [Apr. 26, 2002]
The work of controversial architect Antoni Gaudí is getting a fresh look as Spain marks the 150th anniversary of his birth
Bust In Madrid [Dec. 21, 2001]
A well-established al-Qaeda cell may have been directly involved in planning the U.S. terrorist attacks
Madrid: Living la Vida Loca [Nov. 12, 2001]
Madrileos like it late, loud and lively in their multitude of bars and restaurants
Mogadishu at 60 Miles an Hour Arms merchants are once again doing brisk business after a rapid change of power in this tough town, but so far the peace has held
The Year of The Nuke A rundown of the world's nuclear powerhouses, and what to expect in the coming months
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