Kylian Mbappé caught in political controversy over Ceuta solidarity

Real Madrid footballer Kylian Mbappé has become the center of a political controversy following a gesture of solidarity regarding the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. During a match against Elche, Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Ibrahima Konaté wore jerseys featuring the message ‘Todos somos Caballas’ (We are all Ceutans), but partially obscured the text while on the pitch.

French politician Eric Zemmour criticized Mbappé, accusing him of ‘Islamic solidarity’ with migrants and suggesting his stance favored migrants over Spanish citizens. In response, Mbappé clarified his position in an interview with Diario AS, stating he is ‘fully solidary’ with the residents of Ceuta but also wished to honor the memory of migrants who have lost their lives or face difficult conditions.

The incident has drawn reactions from French political figures, including Green Party MP Léa Agel, who filed a complaint with the media regulator Arcom, describing Zemmour’s comments as xenophobic and inciting hatred.