Kylian Mbappe has received backlash for an apparent lack of sportsmanship after Real Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final against arch rivals Barcelona.
The LaLiga leaders won a thriller as Raphinha scored either side of Robert Lewandowski’s classy finish, while Gonzalo Garcia and Vinicius Jr were on the scoresheet for Madrid.
Despite Frenkie de Jong’s late red card, the LaLiga leaders were able to hold on for what they hope will be the first of plenty of silverware this season.
But, after the game, Mbappe attracted attention when he seemingly told his side not to form a guard of honour for Barca as they went up to receive their winners medals and trophy in Saudi Arabia.
Prior to the trophy presentation, the Barca players formed a guard of honour for Madrid to go and collect their medals. It was not, however, reciprocated by Madrid, and Mbappe seemed to be the reason for that.
Footage showed the France captain, who only played the last 20 minutes of the game, encouraging his team-mates not to applaud the winners of the game on three occasions.
Kylian Mbappe was spotted urging his Real Madrid team not to carry out a guard of honour for Barcelona after the Spanish Super Cup final
They then left the ceremony, opting not to watch their arch rivals lift the trophy they were vying to win at the start of the night.
Speaking after the game, Barca president Joan Laporta expressed his surprise at the act.
He said: ‘I’m surprised they didn’t give us a guard of honor. You have to be generous and respectful even when you lose, but I understand that it must have been a really tough time.
‘They must have been really struggling, and that’s why they reacted that way.’
Mbappe has been struggling with a knee injury of late, and it was a race against time to get him fit for Sunday’s final.
Though he has scored 29 goals in 25 games this season, Madrid are four points behind Barca in the title race as uncertainty continued around Xabi Alonso’s future until he was sacked on Monday.
The former midfielder clashed with various members of his star-studded team earlier this season, and appeared to be on the brink of losing his job until he somewhat turned things around.
Madrid are still trophyless this season, however, and made the decision to relieve the Spaniard of his duties a matter of months into his reign.
