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Kylian Mbappé didn't feature for a single minute in Sunday evening's Clásico loss at Camp Nou, yet he still managed to stir up controversy among supporters through his social media activity during the match.
A flat 2–0 loss in Catalonia confirmed what had been widely anticipated before kickoff: Real Madrid will finish the 2025–26 season empty-handed, as Barcelona opened up an insurmountable 14-point gap at the summit of La Liga with only three fixtures remaining.
Madrid put up little fight against Barça, who had established a two-goal advantage within the opening 20 minutes courtesy of a stunning Marcus Rashford free-kick followed by a clinical Ferran Torres finish.
Thibaut Courtois limited the damage in the second half with five saves on the evening, while Madrid managed just a single shot on target before Barcelona were officially declared champions.
Serving as a backdrop to their fierce rivals' title celebration capped off a particularly brutal week for Madridistas, who had been left stunned by reports of training ground turmoil, including Federico Valverde being taken to hospital following an altercation with Aurelién Tchouaméni.
Mbappe Controversy Continues
Another central figure amid the turmoil has been Mbappé. The French star has appeared increasingly detached from the Real Madrid setup in recent weeks.
His poorly timed trip to Italy while recovering from a hamstring problem frustrated supporters who have long had doubts about his dedication to the club. On top of that, the 27-year-old was reportedly involved in a heated exchange with a member of Álvaro Arbeloa's coaching staff during training, and was seen laughing as he drove away from Valdebebas on the day of the Valverde-Tchouaméni incident.
Mbappé was met with jeers at Madrid's most recent home game against Alavés last month, while an online petition calling for his departure from the club has now accumulated millions of signatures.
Mbappé was ultimately excluded from the squad that traveled for the Clásico, having left the final training session of the week early after experiencing discomfort in his troublesome hamstring.
Despite not being involved in the defeat in Barcelona, Mbappé took to his Instagram story to show his backing for the team, sharing a photo of his television displaying the match alongside the caption "Hala Madrid".
The brief message sparked a significant reaction online, with many taking issue with the timing of the post — Mbappé had waited until the score already read 2–0 before sharing it — leading some to view it as a deliberate and calculated gesture.
Kylian nos está vacilando a todos...
Prominent journalist and passionate Madrid supporter Tomás Roncero was among those who expressed strong displeasure at the forward's conduct.
"Kylian is laughing at all of us," he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, El Chiringuito's Josep Pedrerol struggled to contain his frustration, stating: "My word Mbappé... My word Mbappé... My word Mbappé... A little bit of Madridismo... What a signing!"
With a nod to potential incoming manager José Mourinho, AS described the post as "like pouring salt into a wound where the chosen remedy is still in Lisbon."
📲 Kylian Mbappé on IG.
The team has a day off today. pic.twitter.com/JiOpoiOYAE
On Monday morning, Mbappé shared a photo of himself working out in the gym on the club's scheduled rest day.
Arbeloa Unclear on Mbappé Fitness
During the post-match press conference, Arbeloa was pressed on when Mbappé might return from injury, but gave no clear indication as to whether the Frenchman would see any action in the 2025–26 season.
"I don't know," he told the assembled media. "There are two weeks remaining and we'll continue to assess the discomfort he's currently experiencing to determine whether he'll be able to play or not."
When asked if he had wished Mbappé had at least made the trip to Camp Nou, Arbeloa responded: "I would have liked him to be fully fit and available to start. That's genuinely what I would have preferred."
Real Madrid's upcoming fixtures include a home clash against Real Oviedo on Thursday, May 14, followed by an away trip to Sevilla three days later, before the season concludes at the Bernabéu against Athletic Club on May 24.