A pre-match display of solidarity with the Spanish North African autonomous city of Ceuta has stirred unexpected controversy in La Liga, after three of Real Madrid’s star players obscured the official message printed on unity T-shirts ahead of their dramatic Tuesday clash against Elche.
Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and new signing Ibrahima Konate rolled their pre-match T-shirts up to chest level, hiding part of the slogan that read “Todos somos caballas” — translated as “We are all Ceutans” — that had been distributed to both squads to show support for the territory amid an ongoing migration crisis. While the three Real Madrid players adjusted their shirts, all other members of both Real Madrid and Elche kept the garments fully visible through all pre-match formalities. Mbappe and Vinicius went a step further, removing the shirts entirely before the traditional pre-match handshake between the two sides, while Konate left his on for several additional minutes. Representatives for all three players have been approached for comment on their choice to modify the solidarity garment.
The pre-match tribute was organized as part of a broader La Liga-wide campaign to back Ceuta, which faced an unprecedented migration emergency in late July. Over two days, July 30 and 31, more than 72,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco into the small Spanish territory, many swimming around the fortified border fence that divides the two territories. Ceuta’s mayor confirmed that at least 100 migrants lost their lives during the dangerous crossing. While the vast majority of arrivals have returned to Morocco, an estimated 5,000 people remain, staying in unregulated makeshift camps or sleeping rough on city streets and public beaches. The unplanned influx has sparked social unrest in the city, with local residents voicing widespread public safety concerns, and some locals taking extreme action including destroying migrant shelters and blocking humanitarian aid convoys.
This is not the first public show of support for Ceuta from Real Madrid as a club. Earlier this season, ahead of a Champions League group stage match against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu on September 8, fans in the stadium’s south stand arranged a card display featuring Ceuta’s official coat of arms, and the entire crowd joined the tribute with a unanimous round of applause.
The controversy over the T-shirts emerged minutes before a memorable match for Real Madrid, who fought back from surrendering an early two-goal lead to secure a last-gasp 3-2 win. Carlos Espina scored the decisive winning goal in second-half stoppage time, with Mbappe among the club’s goal scorers on the night, and Vinicius named in the starting lineup.
The incident also brings to light divides across La Liga over the Ceuta solidarity initiative. Barcelona declined to participate in the T-shirt campaign entirely, while players at most other top-flight fixtures across the league wore the garments as planned.
As a side note, Real Madrid has enjoyed a blistering start to the current season, winning six of their seven matches across all competitions, cementing their position as one of the title favorites for the 2025-26 La Liga campaign.