Mbappe, Vini and Konate cover up Real's message of support for Ceuta

What the report says

Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate drew attention before Real Madrid’s away match against Elche by rolling up their pre-game shirts, partially covering a message of support for Ceuta printed on the front. The shirts, worn by players from both teams at Elche’s Martinez Valero stadium, carried the slogan “Todos somos caballas,” or “We are all Ceutans,” alongside references to the Spanish autonomous city.

According to BBC Sport Football, the three Real Madrid-linked players did not wear the shirts in the same way as most others on the pitch. Mbappe and Vinicius later took theirs off before the pre-match handshake, while Konate kept his on longer. The article said their teammates and the Elche players continued with the planned display through the formalities.

The gesture was part of a broader campaign in support of Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast near Morocco. BBC Sport noted the city has faced significant unrest and pressure following a migration surge in 2021, when large numbers of people crossed from Morocco. The report said Real Madrid had previously taken part in a similar tribute during a Champions League match in September.

The moment came shortly before Real Madrid won a dramatic league game 3-2, after recovering from a two-goal deficit, with Mbappe among the scorers. The BBC report also said Barcelona did not join the campaign, while some other La Liga teams had worn the shirts as intended.