Kylian Mbappé's move in Ceuta ignites the right wing
Two days after Kylian Mbappé, the Real Madrid star, refused to fully put on a t‑shirt supporting the population of Ceuta and displayed the message “We are all mackerels” alongside Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konaté before Tuesday night’s La Liga match, the controversy intensified, fueled by the Spanish and French right.
Solidarity displayed by Mbappé
Mbappé told the sports weekly AS that he wanted “to be fully solidary with Ceuta and all the victims”, while recalling his desire to send thoughts to migrants who have died or are living in distress. He emphasized that the gesture was intended to highlight the suffering of migrants, just as the residents of the enclave.
The gesture was captured on video, shared on social media, and then reached the corridors of Parliament in Madrid, where it was denounced as unacceptable by several parliamentarians.
Reactions from the Spanish and French right
In the chamber, the spokesperson for the People's Party said he felt “a deep shame”, while a Vox deputy claimed that Spaniards were “entirely free to feel outraged towards three millionaires who live in Spain and then do not support Spaniards”. These remarks were echoed by the national media.
In France, deputy Julien Odoul, spokesperson for the National Rally, described the gesture as “small‑time thug behaviour” on the CNews channel, recalling that the RN, led by Marine Le Pen, had already opposed Mbappé on other issues. MEP Marion Maréchal added: “Why do they feel solidarity with all the world’s suffering but never with that of Europeans?”
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Migration context in Ceuta
Since the end of July, tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco have crossed the Ceuta border, triggering an unprecedented crisis, dozens of deaths at sea and the rapid repatriation of the majority to Morocco, while several thousand remain in the enclave, fueling tensions with the residents.
Spanish soldiers monitor the return of migrants, and anti‑immigration demonstrations, such as the slogan “Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta defends itself!”, were chanted by several hundred supporters before the match against Inter Milan (2‑1). The ultras group “Ultras Sur”, banned from the Santiago Bernabéu stadium and linked to the far right, demanded public apologies from the three players.
Real Madrid, when questioned by the AFP agency, chose not to comment on the matter. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the deputies on 3 September 2026 to discuss the crisis in Ceuta, as immigration becomes one of the major themes of the upcoming Spanish legislative elections.
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This controversy shows how every gesture by a global football star, even when motivated by a humanitarian intention, can be hijacked and become the focal point of an ideological battle between the Spanish right, the French right and far‑right movements, while highlighting the constant vigilance that surrounds Kylian Mbappé’s actions.