Mbappé Stops Real From Honouring Barcelona Victory

Real Madrid suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, marking their second consecutive loss in this fixture. While the result itself was disappointing, the post-match events have sparked significant controversy, centring on star forward Kylian Mbappé’s actions.

Following the final whistle in Jeddah, Barcelona were set to receive the customary “guard of honour” from the runners-up — a long-standing Spanish football tradition known as the paseo, where the losing team lines up to applaud the victors. However, video footage from the match shows Mbappé actively preventing his teammates from participating in the ceremony.

Mbappé had not started the match due to a knee injury and was deemed not fully fit by coach Xabi Alonso. Gonzalo García was selected in his place for the opening 45 minutes. He was introduced at halftime but was unable to influence the match decisively. He did, however, win a foul late in the game that led to a red card for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, but it proved insufficient to turn the tide. Ultimately, Barcelona secured a 3-2 victory.

After the final whistle, footage from Spanish outlet Esport3 shows Mbappé gesturing to his teammates to retreat to the bench. When young defender Raúl Asensio attempted to line up and honour Barcelona, Mbappé’s body language clearly conveyed frustration and disapproval, effectively halting the traditional gesture. Observers note that this was Mbappé’s third consecutive final defeat in a Real Madrid shirt, which may explain his visible displeasure. After receiving the runners-up medals, he was seen signalling to his teammates not to participate in the honour. Consequently, no Real Madrid player joined Barcelona in the customary guard of honour.

The incident has provoked a storm of criticism on social media. Many Barcelona supporters have condemned Mbappé’s behaviour as “unsportsmanlike.” Barcelona-based media outlet Barça Times commented on X (formerly Twitter) that while Barcelona had honoured Real Madrid in previous matches, the gesture was not reciprocated this time — with Mbappé at the centre of the controversy, calling the situation “highly distasteful.”

Match Summary – Spanish Super Cup Final

The episode has reignited discussions about sportsmanship in Spanish football, with analysts emphasising the importance of tradition and respect, even amid defeat. Mbappé’s decision has left both fans and commentators debating the balance between personal frustration and professional decorum.