Mbappé’s Instagram Post During El Clásico Defeat Sparks Accusations of Mocking Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé found himself at the centre of a fierce controversy on May 10, 2026, after posting an Instagram story showing him watching El Clásico from home at the precise moment Real Madrid were trailing 2-0 to Barcelona — a result that handed Hansi Flick’s side the LALIGA title.

The French forward was absent from Álvaro Arbeloa’s matchday squad for the title-deciding fixture, continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury originally sustained in late April. Unable to feature, Mbappé updated followers via his Instagram story that he was watching proceedings — but the timing of the post, shared while his side were two goals down rather than at 0-0, drew immediate and widespread backlash from the Madrid fanbase.

The 2-0 defeat to Barcelona mathematically confirmed the Blaugrana’s 29th LALIGA title, marking what would be a second consecutive trophyless season for Real Madrid since Mbappé’s high-profile arrival ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Angry supporters were quick to attribute intent to the post. “Mbappe has finished me, he could’ve taken that screenshot at 0-0 but chose to take it 2-0,” wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter. Another added: “He waited to post till we were losing so he could make fun of the people who say Madrid are better without Mbappe.” A third supporter pointed to a pattern of selective engagement: “When we were beating Man City and Atletico without Mbappe, he never posted anything supporting the club then so why now.”

Others were equally blunt. “BRO IS TROLLING HIS OWN TEAM??” wrote one user, while another outlined two possible interpretations: “Either 1. Not watching from the start. Or 2. Posting at 2-0 to have that ‘look where they are without me’ attached… He only gets less likeable with time.”

The dominant reading among supporters was that Mbappé was making a calculated statement — using the timing of the post to counter the prevailing narrative that his presence has been a destabilising force within the squad. Despite remaining Real Madrid’s top scorer this season, Mbappé has faced sustained criticism from sections of the fanbase and media, with some attributing the club’s poor form to a perceived disruption to dressing room harmony since his arrival.

By posting during a loss in which he played no part, some fans interpreted the gesture as Mbappé implicitly arguing that the team’s struggles extend beyond his individual contribution — or lack thereof. “He’s always had an agenda against Alvaro Arbeloa and this club,” one user wrote. “He didn’t post when we beat City or even Atleti, didn’t post when it was 0-0, but the moment we went down 2-0 he remembered to support us by posting on IG.”

Mbappé has not publicly addressed the backlash or clarified the intention behind the post. The incident adds another layer of tension to an already fraught relationship between the striker and a portion of the Madrid support base, with the club’s season now effectively over without a major trophy to show for it.

Real Madrid’s failure to win silverware in back-to-back seasons represents a significant low point for a club that captured the UEFA Champions League title in the 2023/24 campaign. How the club responds in the summer transfer window, and whether Mbappé’s standing within the squad is formally addressed, are among the key storylines heading into the off-season.