Kylian Mbappe’s ‘ugly gesture’ blasted by Barcelona president amid Super Cup medal ceremony controversy

Jan 12, 2026 - 16:15
Kylian Mbappe’s ‘ugly gesture’ blasted by Barcelona president amid Super Cup medal ceremony controversy

Kylian Mbappe has continued to receive huge backlash after he appeared to tell his Real Madrid teammates to snub opponents Barcelona.

Footage showed the French superstar beckoning the Real squad away from their rivals as some prepared to give a Guard of Honour during the Spanish Super Cup medal ceremony.

Kylian Mbappe with his runners-up medal
Mbappe appeared to tell his teammates not to give Barcelona a Guard of Honour
AFP

Barca beat Los Blancos 3-2 in Saudi Arabia, with a winning goal from Raphinha seeing them claim a second straight Super Cup win.

First, Real had to walk over the stage to receive their runners-up medals, with their El Clasico foes clapping them as they walked up.

But then, after picking up their losing prize, Mbappe walked away and towards the side of the pitch, telling his teammates to follow him.

Some waited in line to give a Guard of Honour to Barca, as their rivals had shown sportsmanship towards them just moments earlier.

However, the 27-year-old wasn’t keen on doing so, making sure that the Real squad stood to watch from a distance instead.

His decision has led to backlash online amongst fans, while Barcelona president Joan Laporta has now blasted him too.

What did Laporta say on Mbappe’s controversial snub?

Speaking to Spanish outlet RAC-1 on the controversy around Mbappe, Laporta said: “I’m surprised by what he did.

“In victory and defeat, you have to be generous and respectful. This is sport, and you have to behave normally.

“I think that in our victory, we were generous and respectful of the opposing team.

“That’s why I can’t understand it.”

Kylian Mbappe watching Barcelona lift the Super Cup
Mbappe and the Real squad walked to the sidelines and watched from a distance
AFP

He added: “There was a difference in attitude since the league match, and the players were a bit fired up. It’s understandable.

“To be honest, I didn’t see Mbappe’s outburst on the pitch, but I imagine it must have been a very difficult time.

“They must have been really upset, and that’s why they reacted that way.”

Laporta’s comments follow a barrage of backlash towards Mbappe and Real’s actions after the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

One Barcelona fan wrote on X: “Sore losers.”

“Absolutely classless,” another angry supporter said.

Kylian Mbappe sitting during Spanish Super Cup
Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup by Barcelona
Getty

‘Ugly gesture’

Mbappe’s snub was first spotted by Spanish journalist Alfredo Martinez, who was in attendance at the match.

He posted on X: “Real Madrid did not form the champions’ guard of honour for Barcelona. Barça had done so.

“Mbappe led them away from there. Ugly gesture. Inexplicable.”

Martinez later followed that up with a post revealing that Real Madrid had stated they were told to move out of the way by the Spanish Football Federation, not due to Mbappe’s request.

It is yet to be confirmed whether that was the case.

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