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Earlier this year, when Kylian Mbappé was asked whether he had ever thought about running for President of France, the national team skipper chuckled. "No," he said. "People already hate me enough."
Despite his efforts to stay clear of the political arena, the very act of positioning oneself as non-political can itself be seen as a political stance. Mbappé soon found himself caught between opposing sides of a heated debate this week simply by attempting to remain neutral.
Ahead of Real Madrid's win against Elche on Tuesday evening, all players were required to wear a T-shirt bearing the message, "We are all caballas" (the nickname given to residents of Ceuta) as a gesture of solidarity with the city of Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa currently facing a crisis as locals come into conflict with thousands of migrants arriving at its borders.
Mbappé, together with teammates Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté, deliberately chose not to fully display the message, triggering widespread anger throughout the country.
As Mbappé thoughtfully explained in an interview with AS following the initial controversy, he did not wish to "place one person's suffering above another's."
What Is Happening in Ceuta?
Over the course of July 30–31 this summer, at least 72,000 migrants made the brief journey across the border at the northern edge of Morocco into Ceuta, a city of roughly 84,000 inhabitants. Figures provided by the city's mayor indicate that at least 100 people perished during the crossing, with many swimming around a border barrier to enter.
The overwhelming majority of these arrivals peacefully returned to Morocco in short order, yet thousands continue to remain in the coastal city. Reports have emerged of violent confrontations between local residents, some of whom were accused of blocking Red Cross workers from delivering aid to migrant camps, which house a significant number of children.
The situation has become a deeply polarizing issue across Spain. "The dignity of Spain is at stake right now in Ceuta," the enclave's conservative mayor Juan Jesús Vivas declared earlier this summer.
Mbappe: 'I Have Nothing Against Ceuta'
Every aspect of Mbappé's public image is meticulously controlled. This is a player who turned down a KFC sponsorship deal alongside the rest of the French national squad in order to protect his personal brand. He offered a measured and deliberate explanation for his conduct.
"I want to make this clear so that people can understand," Mbappé stated. "It was a decision made by the clubs to include the shirt—to wear the shirt. We as players were required to put it on.
"The first thing I want to say is that I stand in complete solidarity with Ceuta and all those affected. Because before being a footballer, I am a human being. But I also wanted to recognize and show support for all the migrants who have lost their lives and those enduring difficult conditions."
"It wasn't a straightforward position—it was tough—because people might assume I'm against the people of Ceuta, but that is absolutely not the case. I have nothing against them, and I support them wholeheartedly in my thoughts.
"There are people suffering, and it deeply saddens me to witness that in this world. I am someone who wants the best for the world we live in. I aim to send a message of positivity and peace, and I hope this situation is resolved as soon as possible."