Kylian Mbappé has revealed that his audacious Panenka penalty against Villarreal was a deeply personal gesture aimed at supporting teammate Brahim Diaz, following Real Madrid’s 2-0 LaLiga victory at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
The French forward sealed the win in stoppage time with a calm chip from the spot, a moment that capped a dominant performance and lifted Madrid to the top of the table, as detailed in SoftFootball’s match report on the win over Villarreal.
Immediately after scoring, Mbappé ran toward Diaz on the bench, embracing him and repeating the words:
For you, for you.
Speaking after the game in a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account, Mbappé confirmed the intention behind the goal.
Fabrizio Romano posted:
Kylian Mbappé: My panenka penalty was for Brahim Diaz.
He later added:
It was support for him.
The explanation carried extra weight given Diaz’s recent ordeal at the Africa Cup of Nations, a moment that has been reported by SoftFootball after Morocco’s dramatic AFCON final defeat to Senegal. Mbappé’s decision to take such a risk in a high-pressure league match was seen as a clear act of solidarity rather than showmanship.
Brahim Diaz had endured a painful week after missing a decisive Panenka penalty in the AFCON 2025 final. With the score level deep into stoppage time, his chipped effort was saved by Édouard Mendy before Senegal went on to win the title in extra time. The miss sparked intense criticism online, despite Diaz finishing the tournament as the Golden Boot winner.
Mbappé, who has experienced similar heartbreak after missing a crucial penalty for France at Euro 2020, stressed the human side of the sport.
He said, underlining why he felt compelled to act:
Before football we must think about the human being.
His gesture was widely praised inside the Real Madrid dressing room, with manager Álvaro Arbeloa and several teammates publicly backing Diaz. While some online voices mocked the tribute, many fans viewed it as a powerful show of leadership.
In a season defined by pressure and scrutiny, Mbappé’s Panenka became less about flair and more about empathy, turning a decisive goal into a moment of genuine support.
