Mbappé and Vinícius Cover Ceuta Message as Real Madrid Defends Players’ Freedom of Expression
Real Madrid has defended its players’ freedom to hold different views after Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. chose not to fully display a solidarity message for Ceuta before Tuesday’s LaLiga match against Elche.
Players from both Real Madrid and Elche entered the pitch wearing white T-shirts carrying the message “Todos somos caballas,” meaning “We are all Ceutans.” The term “caballas” is a nickname used for people from Ceuta. Real Madrid went on to beat Elche 3-2.
But Mbappé and Vinícius wore their shirts rolled up around their chests and shoulders, making the message difficult to read. Both players removed the shirts as they left the tunnel and before the pre-match formalities were completed.
Real Madrid defender Ibrahima Konaté also did not display the message in full. He carried the T-shirt in his hands rather than wearing it normally. Spanish media reported that the three players’ different treatment of the shirts was visible as the teams entered the pitch.
None of the three players has publicly explained why they chose not to display the message in the same way as their teammates.
What Real Madrid Said About the T-Shirts
The club told Reuters that it had accepted Elche’s proposal to take part in the solidarity initiative.
However, Real Madrid also said that it respects different opinions within its squad and gave individual players the freedom to decide whether they wanted to wear the T-shirt.
The club did not regard the incident as an internal disciplinary matter, and no disciplinary action was announced in the Reuters report.
Real Madrid itself later published a report confirming that players from both teams had entered the field wearing the Ceuta-support shirts.
Why Were Players Wearing the Ceuta Shirts?
The gesture came after a major migration-related incident involving Ceuta in July.
According to Reuters, more than 70,000 irregular crossings from Morocco into Ceuta were recorded in July 2026. The episode led to solidarity campaigns in different parts of Spain in support of the Spanish territory and its residents.
Ceuta is a Spanish territory on the North African coast, bordering Morocco.
The T-shirt campaign was promoted by the Valencian Business Association and supported by LaLiga. It was used during several LaLiga matches as a public show of solidarity with Ceuta.
Barcelona Took a Different Approach
The initiative was not adopted uniformly across LaLiga.
Barcelona did not wear the solidarity shirts before its match against Levante on Sunday, while Levante players did participate in the display. Reuters described Barcelona as one of the clubs that chose not to take part.
The Real Madrid situation was different because the club accepted Elche’s proposal but left the final decision to individual players.
Real Madrid Fans Had Already Shown Support for Ceuta
The latest incident came only days after Real Madrid supporters displayed their own message of solidarity.
During the club’s Champions League match against Inter Milan on September 8, the Real Madrid singing section displayed a tifo featuring Ceuta flags. The club had also publicly addressed the issue around that time, with Spanish reports noting that it had denied preventing expressions of support for Ceuta.
That means the players’ decision before the Elche match was separate from the club’s previous public displays of support.
Ez Abde Faced Social Media Abuse
The issue had already generated controversy around another Moroccan international, Real Betis forward Ez Abde.
Abde wore the same Ceuta-support shirt before Betis’ match against Villarreal and subsequently faced abusive comments on social media.
He later defended the decision, saying the gesture was intended as a social message rather than a political statement or an insult toward Morocco. Real Betis and LaLiga also expressed support for the player.
A Different Choice From Three Real Madrid Players
The images from the Elche match therefore showed three different approaches within the Real Madrid squad.
Most players wore the shirt normally and displayed the Ceuta message. Konaté carried his shirt rather than fully wearing it, while Mbappé and Vinícius wore theirs rolled up and removed them before the pre-match formalities were completed.
Real Madrid’s position was that participation in the solidarity display should remain an individual choice.
The incident has consequently become a discussion not only about the Ceuta campaign, but also about how football clubs handle symbolic social messages when players may have different personal views.
