Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Real Madrid suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals Barcelona, losing 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final for the second consecutive year. While the loss alone was disappointing, the post-match events sparked a storm of controversy, centred on the refusal of Real Madrid players to give the customary ‘Guard of Honour’ to the victorious Barcelona squad. Video footage from the match shows Real star Kylian Mbappé actively preventing his teammates from following the traditional gesture of respect.
Mbappé, who had been nursing a knee injury, was not fully fit for the match and was omitted from the starting XI by coach Javi Alonso, with Gonçalo García taking his place. He was brought on after halftime, but his presence could not turn the tide of the match. Late in the game, he drew a foul that led to Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong being shown a red card in the 90th minute. Nonetheless, Barcelona maintained their lead and secured the trophy.
According to Spanish football tradition, the defeated side lines up in two rows to applaud the champions, a ceremony known as ‘paseo’. Coach Alonso had expected his squad to honour Barcelona with this gesture. However, Mbappé appeared visibly frustrated in footage captured by Spanish outlet Esport 3, leading his teammates back to the dugout. Young defender Raúl Asensio, who moved forward to initiate the Guard of Honour, was halted by Mbappé’s commanding gestures. Observers described his demeanour as a clear message: “Now is not the time for formalities.”
This marked Mbappé’s third consecutive final defeat wearing the Real Madrid shirt, potentially explaining his heightened frustration. During the medal ceremony, cameras captured him signalling his teammates to avoid lining up for the Guard of Honour, a directive that was ultimately followed by the entire team.
The incident has ignited widespread criticism on social media. Barcelona supporters labelled Mbappé’s behaviour as “unsporting”, while the Barcelona-based outlet Barça Times tweeted that Real refused to return the courtesy extended by Barcelona, attributing the decision directly to Mbappé, describing the entire affair as “highly distasteful.”
Key match details are summarised below:
| Team | Goals | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 3 | Victory, Frenkie de Jong sent off (90′) |
| Real Madrid | 2 | Mbappé substituted post-halftime, no Guard of Honour |
| Special Note | – | Controversy over Guard of Honour refusal, social media backlash |
The combination of defeat and controversial post-match conduct has intensified the scrutiny on Real Madrid, with Mbappé’s actions dominating discussions among fans and pundits alike. The refusal to uphold a long-standing tradition has not only embarrassed the club but also ignited debates about sportsmanship and player conduct at the highest level of Spanish football.