Marriage proposals, hits and guests: Manuel Carrasco makes history at the Bernabéu in Madrid

In an emotional night, Manuel Carrasco left his mark on Spanish music history as he became the first national artist to fill the renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. With more than 60,000 fans in attendance, the Andalusian singer closed his Corazón y Flecha tour with a bang on Saturday (June 29).

“Good evening Madrid! They ask what the secret is. There is no secret or talisman. The only secret and the greatest treasure is you who came to join me tonight,” Carrasco said welcoming his fans. “It's so beautiful it doesn't seem real, it doesn't seem real. I fill the Bernabéu without Real Madrid playing. Let's live in the moment!”.

Carrasco rose to fame in 2002 as a contestant on the reality show Operación Triunfo. Since then, he has built a successful career with nine studio albums and many milestones. In 2022, he set a record by gathering more than 74,000 people at La Cartuja in Seville, the largest audience for a concert by a solo Spanish artist. Now, he has repeated the feat by filling the Santiago Bernabéu.

Saturday's concert, which lasted two and a half hours, was a celebration of his career and was full of surprises and guests. The first was Niña Pastori, with whom he performed “Ayer noche” and “Amor de San Juan”. Shortly after, Luis Fonsi appeared on stage to sing 'Coquito' and 'Échame la culpa' with Carrasco, joined by Camilo, singing 'Salitre' and 'Vida de rico'.

Later in the evening, Malú took to the stage to sing “Que nadie”, followed by an emotional performance of “Libélula”, dedicated to the memory of Spanish influencer and activist Elena Huelva. However, the highlight of the night came with Juanes, who performed 'Ya no' and 'A Dios le pido', unleashing a frenzy.

In a particularly memorable moment, Carrasco also performed a song written especially for the occasion, waving an LGBT flag and advocating for an end to the war and the plight of Palestinian children. And during his performance of “Volviste,” five couples got engaged as Carrasco mingled with the audience. They were chosen from a total of 954 marriage proposals received by the show's producers.

The evening culminated with 'Hasta por la mañana', capping off a tour that began more than a year ago in Miami and took Carrasco across Spain, playing to more than 300,000 fans.

“The last arrow”, as the show was titled, did not only celebrate the success of Carrasco's album Corazón y Flecha (Heart and Arrow) but also established Carrasco as an icon of contemporary Spanish music. Carrasco ended the concert as he had begun every concert on this tour: shooting an arrow, but this time, surrounded by his children.

“Now, it's time to say goodbye, bring down the curtain to make way for new horizons. I hope we meet again on the road or in the stars. Thank you Madrid. I love you very much. Thank you so much for tonight,” he said, before disappearing backstage.