Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate Hide Ceuta Message Before Real Madrid Match
Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr. and Ibrahima Konaté attracted attention before Real Madrid’s match against Elche after they did not fully display a shirt carrying a message of support for Ceuta.
Players from both teams came onto the pitch at the Martínez Valero Stadium wearing shirts with the message “Todos somos caballas”, which translates as “We are all Caballas.” The shirts were part of a solidarity initiative for Ceuta.
What Happened With Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate?
Mbappé, Vinícius and Konaté did wear the shirts, but they did not show the message in the same way as their teammates.
Mbappé and Vinícius wore the shirts rolled up around the chest, meaning the main slogan could not be read properly. They then removed the shirts before the usual pre-match greeting.
Konaté also wore his shirt in a way that kept the full message from being visible. Reports said he held or wore the shirt differently from the other Real Madrid players.
Why Was the Ceuta Message Displayed?
The “Todos somos caballas” campaign was created as a show of solidarity with people in Ceuta following the migration crisis that affected the Spanish city in July.
The word “caballas” is commonly used for people from Ceuta. The initiative has been supported by several clubs during the LaLiga season, including Elche and Real Madrid.
Real Madrid officially published that its players and Elche’s players entered the field with the message as a demonstration of solidarity with Ceuta.
Real Madrid Responds to the Situation
The issue received attention because Real Madrid supported the initiative as a club while three of its players did not fully display the message.
According to Reuters, Real Madrid said it supported Elche’s proposal but respected each player’s decision about whether to participate in the display. The club described the matter as an individual choice.
The players themselves have not publicly explained their reasons for not fully showing the slogan in the reports available so far. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to claim a specific political or personal reason without confirmation.
Ez Abde Also Faced Backlash
The Ceuta shirt campaign had already created debate before the Elche vs Real Madrid match.
Moroccan international Ez Abde wore the same message while playing for Real Betis against Villarreal. He later faced criticism and online abuse after images of him wearing the shirt circulated.
Abde said the gesture was intended as a social message supporting people in Ceuta and was not meant as a political statement against Morocco.
Barcelona Did Not Join the Display
Real Madrid was not the only club involved in the wider campaign.
Several Spanish clubs participated in the initiative, while Barcelona chose not to wear the Ceuta shirt during its match against Levante. This shows that clubs have taken different approaches to the campaign.
Real Madrid Beat Elche 3-2
The controversy came before an exciting LaLiga match that Real Madrid eventually won 3-2 against Elche.
Matías Dituro’s own goal gave Madrid the lead before Mbappé made it 2-0 in the first half. Elche came back through Abiel Osorio and Fernando Niño, but Carlos Espí scored in the 90th minute to give Real Madrid all three points.
Latest Update on the Ceuta Shirt Controversy
The latest development is that Real Madrid has publicly defended the freedom of individual players to decide whether to participate in the Ceuta solidarity display.
Mbappé, Vinícius and Konaté did not fully show the slogan, while their teammates and Elche players displayed the shirts before kick-off. The three players have not publicly stated their reasons, so their motives should not be assumed.
For now, the incident remains a talking point around Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Elche, while the wider Ceuta message continues to generate discussion across Spanish football.
