Three Real Madrid players conceal Ceuta solidarity slogan before match against Elche
Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Ibrahima Konaté chose not to display the 'Todos somos caballas' campaign message ahead of their match at Estadio Martínez Valero.
Pre-match actions at Martínez Valero
Ahead of the LaLiga matchday 6 fixture between Elche and Real Madrid at the Estadio Martínez Valero on 15 September 2026, players from both squads walked onto the pitch wearing shirts dedicated to the autonomous city of Ceuta. The white shirts, distributed in the tunnel moments before kickoff upon the request of the home club, featured the slogan "Todos somos caballas" across the front, referencing the traditional demonym for Ceuta residents, alongside the city's coat of arms and the flags of Spain and the autonomous city. While most players wore the garment as intended, Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Ibrahima Konaté did not display the initiative's full message. Konaté carried the folded shirt in his hands throughout the opening protocol, whereas Mbappé and Vinícius placed it across their shoulders, keeping the fabric bunched at chest level to avoid revealing the text before cameras. All three players took off the shirts seconds after the official team handshakes.
- Tens of thousands enter Ceuta in the largest border crossing from Morocco since 2021
- Elche and Real Madrid squads receive solidarity shirts bearing the Ceuta coat of arms
- Konaté carries the shirt while Mbappé and Vinícius drape it folded over their shoulders
- The three players remove the shirts immediately following greetings with Elche players
Internal club response and media criticism
The actions of the three footballers prompted immediate debate across Spanish sports media and on social networks following the live broadcast on Movistar Plus+. An internal source at Real Madrid stated that the club viewed the behaviour as a personal decision driven by individual sensitivities, which diverged from the club management's decision to support Elche's tribute. On the radio programme Tiempo de Juego, commentator Paco González criticized the compromise of wearing the shirts incompletely, arguing that players must follow institutional instructions or reject them completely. González noted that the campaign represented a humanitarian social initiative rather than a political statement, adding that wearing the shirt halfway constituted a lack of respect toward the institution.
It is a club matter, the club tells you to wear it and you wear it. If it goes against a personal idea of yours, you do not wear it.
Wider LaLiga campaign and border tensions
The "Todos somos caballas" campaign follows a migration crisis that began in late July 2026, when tens of thousands of people crossed irregularly into Ceuta from Morocco in the largest such influx on the border since 2021. The symbolic tributes across Spanish football have produced differing reactions among clubs and individual athletes due to diplomatic and political sensitivities surrounding the territory. FC Barcelona formally declined as an institution to take part in the tribute during recent away matches against Elche and Levante. In another fixture, Real Betis winger and Moroccan international Ez Abde wore the solidarity shirt during a match against Villarreal, but later removed photographs from his Instagram account after receiving insults, threats, and accusations of betrayal from online users in Morocco.
This was a social shirt in support of a population and its inhabitants, regardless of their nationality, who were experiencing a complicated situation. Now, this is not an apology to anyone and anyone who wishes to use this to doubt my love for my country is free to do so, I will continue to live every day with my head held high and I will continue to represent my roots with pride and sacrifice.
