Kylian Mbappe has faced renewed criticism in France after partially concealing a shirt supporting the residents of Ceuta before Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Elche.
The France captain was among three Real Madrid players who did not fully display the message on the shirt before Tuesday’s game. Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate also rolled up their shirts, obscuring part of the slogan, while the other players wore them normally.
The shirts carried the message “We are all from Ceuta” and were part of an initiative intended to show solidarity with the Spanish city, which has been dealing with the consequences of a major migrant crossing from Morocco.
Mbappe’s decision quickly attracted attention, with the issue moving beyond football and into a wider debate over migration and Spain’s relationship with Morocco.
French politician Eric Zemmour, leader of the Reconquête party, criticised the Real Madrid forward during an appearance on BFM TV on Thursday evening.
Zemmour said: “We clearly see that the Islamic solidarity that arises in the suburbs is stronger than French solidarity, and even stronger than the solidarity of its host country, Spain.”
The politician also referred to Mbappe’s previous public reaction following the death of Nael, a young man who was shot by a police officer in 2023.
“It is clear that Kylian has forms of solidarity that we do not understand,” Zemmour said.
Mbappe explains his decision
Mbappe has already provided an explanation for why he did not wear the shirt in full, saying his intention was not to reject or oppose the people of Ceuta.
The Real Madrid forward said he wanted to express his support for the city’s residents while also drawing attention to migrants who had died or were continuing to live in difficult circumstances.
“First, I want to express my full solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims, but I also wanted to make a gesture and show my sympathy to all the migrants who lost their lives, and to those who are still living in difficult conditions.”
Mbappe added: “Some may think that I am against the people of Ceuta, but no, certainly not, I have nothing against them, and I support them 100%. But I wanted to think about all the people who are suffering, because in the end I am a human being, and I don’t want to put a hierarchy of suffering.”
His explanation has not prevented further criticism.
Zemmour described Mbappe’s comments as rhetoric and argued that the player could have avoided entering the issue altogether.
“He could have kept quiet. Zinedine Zidane never said a word, and he was right to do so. If he wants to engage in political issues, he should be prepared to accept criticism.”
Ceuta shirt controversy
The gesture took place before Real Madrid’s meeting with Elche, when players from both sides wore the shirts carrying the message “We are all from Ceuta”. Real Madrid went on to win the match 3-2.
La Liga had approved the initiative, while Real Madrid and Elche had also agreed to participate. The shirts were produced and distributed by a business association representing companies in the Valencia region.
Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate initially put on the shirts but wore them rolled up towards their chests, leaving part of the message hidden. They then removed them before the pre-match handshakes.
The controversy comes after a major migrant crossing into Ceuta from Morocco in late July, with reports putting the number of people who crossed at around 80,000. Several thousand migrants remained in the city afterwards, adding pressure to an already sensitive situation.
Mbappe’s explanation has made clear that he intended his gesture to recognise both the residents of Ceuta and migrants affected by the situation. His position has nevertheless continued to generate criticism, particularly from political figures in France.
