You’ve seen the face. Even if you couldn't name the guy if your life depended on it, you’ve seen him. Lean, chiseled, usually sitting on a horse with a mallet in one hand and a look that says he knows exactly where the nearest bottle of expensive champagne is hidden. Most people think polo player Nacho Figueras is just a model who happens to play a little bit of sport on the side.
Honestly? That’s totally backward.
Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras Bermejo wasn't born into some crazy royal lineage or a billionaire’s estate. He grew up on a small farm in 25 de Mayo, just outside Buenos Aires. His dad was a civil engineer. They were middle class. Sure, he started riding at nine, but he wasn't handed a professional career on a silver platter. He worked for it. Hard.
The Grind Behind the Glamour
At 17, Nacho moved to Paris. He wasn't staying in five-star hotels. Far from it. He was his own groom. Imagine the "David Beckham of Polo" mucking out stalls, brushing down sweaty horses, and hauling gear before jumping into a professional match. He was a teenager doing the dirty work because he loved the game.
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That grit is what most people miss. They see the Ralph Lauren ads—the ones he started doing in 2000 after being "discovered" at a dinner party in the Hamptons—and they assume it’s all easy. But polo is dangerous. It’s basically hockey on 1,200-pound animals moving at 35 miles per hour. People get hurt. Horses get hurt.
Nacho has a 6-goal handicap. For context, the scale goes from -2 to 10. A 10-goal player is a literal god of the sport (think Adolfo Cambiaso). A 6-goal handicap puts Nacho in the top 1% of players worldwide. He’s not a "model who plays." He’s a professional athlete who happens to be ridiculously photogenic.
Why the Prince Harry Connection Matters
If you’ve seen him in the news lately, it’s probably because of his friendship with Prince Harry. It’s not just a "celebrity buddies" thing for the cameras. They’ve been close for nearly two decades.
Nacho has become a sort of unofficial spokesperson for Harry, especially since the move to North America. In early 2026, you'll still see them together at charity matches for Sentebale, the organization Harry co-founded to help children in Lesotho.
- The Sentebale Polo Cup: This is where the real work happens.
- Defense of Family: Nacho has been incredibly vocal about Harry’s need to "protect his lioness" (Meghan) and their kids.
- The Brotherhood: They don't just play; they compete. Hard.
There’s a genuine bond there rooted in a shared love for horses. Nacho often says that the "outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man." It's a sentiment he leans on when things get messy in the tabloids.
Moving Beyond the "Face" of Ralph Lauren
For 18 years, Nacho was the face of Ralph Lauren Black Label and the "World of Polo" fragrances. That's a lifetime in the modeling world. But he’s moved on. He’s now an owner and an investor.
He co-owns the Black Watch Polo Team. He’s also the founder of the Figueras Design Group (FDG). This isn't just a vanity project. He’s working with architects like Juan Ignacio Ramos to design some of the most stunning stables and equestrian estates on the planet. His own stables in Argentina, Cria Yatay, look more like a modern art museum than a barn. It’s all concrete, wood, and iron.
He’s also leaned into the business side of things. He has a fragrance line with his wife, Delfina Blaquier, and he's invested in tech companies like Fubo and Flow (a blockchain platform). He’s basically trying to take the "Old Money" vibe of polo and drag it into the 21st century.
The Reality of a Polo Life
His life isn't just one long vacation.
The Figueras family—Nacho, Delfina, and their four kids (Hilario, Aurora, Artemio, and Alba)—spend about six months of the year on the move. They go from Argentina to Florida, then to the Hamptons, Aspen, and Europe. It sounds glamorous, but it’s a constant cycle of packing, moving horses, and maintaining a household on wheels.
"We are a circus," he often jokes.
But they do it together. Hilario, his oldest, is already playing professionally. Seeing his son follow in his footsteps is clearly where Nacho finds his real pride these days. The "We Are Figueras" hashtag on Instagram isn't just branding; it's how they survive the travel.
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Bringing Polo to the People
Nacho knows polo has a reputation for being elitist and snobby. He hates that. His whole mission with events like the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic—which he helps organize in New York and Los Angeles—is to make the sport accessible.
He wants you to come, have a drink, watch the horses, and realize it’s an incredible athletic feat. He’s basically the marketing department for a 3,000-year-old sport that desperately needs to stay relevant.
How to Actually Experience Polo Like a Pro
If you want to understand what polo player Nacho Figueras is actually doing, don't just look at the ads. Here is how you should engage with the sport:
- Watch a High-Goal Match: If you’re near Wellington, Florida, in the winter or Bridgehampton in the summer, go to a match. Don't worry about the "divot stomping" and the fancy hats. Watch the speed.
- Follow the Horses: In polo, the horse is 80% of the game. Professional players like Nacho are constantly breeding and training. Look for "Best Playing Pony" awards at tournaments; that's where the real respect lies.
- Support the Charities: Events like the Sentebale Polo Cup are the best way to see the sport while contributing to something that actually matters.
- Ditch the Stereotypes: Stop thinking of it as "The Sport of Kings." Think of it as a high-speed, high-stakes contact sport that happens to have a very nice dress code.
Nacho Figueras has spent his career being the bridge between the world of luxury and the grit of the polo field. Whether he's defending a prince or breeding a future champion horse, he’s doing it with a level of intentionality that most people never see behind the "pretty boy" facade. He's a businessman, an athlete, and a father. The modeling was just the fuel for the fire.
Actionable Insight: If you're interested in the lifestyle or the sport, start by following the United States Polo Association (USPA) schedules. Don't wait for a celebrity event—local clubs often have matches that are free or cheap to attend, offering a much more authentic look at the "grind" Nacho often speaks about.