Vini Jr., Mbappé, Konaté, and a shirt in support of Ceuta: understand the Real Madrid forward’s gesture By Thiago Lemos
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Real Madrid forwards Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, alongside Konaté, concealed pre-match shirts supporting the autonomous city of Ceuta before facing Elche on September 16, 2026. The pre-match garments featured the slogan “Todos somos caballas” in solidarity with the Spanish enclave in North Africa.
All three players walked onto the pitch with the shirts rolled upward to their chests to partially obscure the print, and while Konaté kept the text hidden, Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé stripped the fabric off entirely before the formal pre-kickoff handshakes.
The campaign aimed to support Ceuta. The front text “Todos somos caballas” utilized the traditional nickname given to people living in the enclave. On the back, organizers placed the name of Ceuta right next to the official coat of arms of Spain.
🤝El pasamanos del #Elche #Madrid con desde la Refcam de Jesús Gil Manzano.
— Mr. Asubío (@MrAsubio) September 15, 2026
👕Vini y Mbappé pasan por el colegiado sin la camiseta de apoyo a Ceuta puesta. pic.twitter.com/VO4HOHFsHp
La Liga staged the initiative across matchday 6 fixtures, including Levante against Barcelona and Villarreal against Betis, before Elche and Real Madrid competitors received the tops in the tunnel. Real Madrid supported the initiative as an institution.
Recent events in Ceuta gave the league-wide gesture heightened visibility. In late July, tens of thousands of people crossed into the city without authorization from Morocco. The arrival sparked a severe migration crisis that rapidly escalated tensions across the Spanish border zone.
Located geographically on the African continent under Spanish sovereignty, Ceuta represents a historical friction point between Spain and Morocco. Because of that geopolitical friction, the sporting demonstration quickly took on a political dimension.
The refusal of Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé, and Konaté to display the message drew immediate scrutiny. Inside Real Madrid, club representatives viewed the decision as a matter of personal sensitivity among the athletes. Those individual feelings differed directly from the official corporate stance of the Madrid club.
Real Madrid management endorsed the league campaign but formally respected the private judgment of every squad member.
The controversy intensified after Moroccan forward Ez Abde of Betis faced online criticism for wearing the shirt during his fixture. Ez Abde clarified that his participation represented humanitarian backing for the residents of Ceuta rather than any political gesture against Morocco.
