Barcelona Fans Troll Kylian Mbappé with New Nickname “Mbappenalti”
Rivalries in football often go beyond the pitch, and few are as intense as that between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. In September 2024, Barcelona fans added a fresh jab to this historic feud by coining a new nickname for Real Madrid’s star signing Kylian Mbappé: “Mbappenalti”. This clever portmanteau blends “Mbappé” with the Spanish word for penalty, “penalti”, and is meant to mock the frequency with which the French forward had been scoring from the penalty spot since joining Los Blancos.
The nickname surfaced after Real Madrid’s 4–1 win against Espanyol, where once again Mbappé found the net via a penalty. While his performances remained strong on paper, Barcelona fans quickly picked up on the fact that most of his early goals for Real had come from the penalty spot. In the passionate world of Spanish football, such trends rarely go unnoticed, and rival fans seized the opportunity to taunt him.
Barcelona supporters flooded social media with memes, hashtags, and jokes centered around the new nickname. Comments like “Another penalty? Mbappenalti strikes again!” trended on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). It wasn’t just a playful jab—it was a strategic effort to diminish the perceived impact of Madrid’s new superstar by framing him as overly reliant on spot-kicks.
This nickname follows a long tradition in football where rival fans give players sarcastic or mocking monikers. For Mbappé, it adds to a list of other nicknames he has acquired over the years. Earlier in his career, he was called “Donatello” or “Mbappé Turtle” because of his resemblance to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle character. That nickname, originally used by his PSG teammates, was embraced humorously by fans worldwide.
But “Mbappenalti” hits differently. It reflects not just humor, but also resentment and rivalry—especially from Barcelona fans still smarting over the Frenchman choosing Real Madrid after years of speculation that he might join Barça or stay at PSG. By mocking his penalty goals, they attempt to minimize the threat he poses to their team and to undermine his growing legacy at Madrid.
Fan culture in Spain thrives on these kinds of taunts. From banners and chants in stadiums to viral posts online, Spanish supporters are deeply invested in shaping the narratives around rival players. Mbappé, as one of the highest-profile players in world football, is naturally a target—especially now that he’s wearing the white of Real Madrid.
It’s unclear how Mbappé himself feels about the nickname. Known for his composed demeanor and confidence, he has yet to respond publicly. However, given his stature, he’s likely aware of the criticism—and may well use it as motivation.
As the season progresses, the name “Mbappenalti” may fade if Mbappé starts scoring more from open play. But for now, it’s a sign of how football rivalry goes beyond goals and tactics—it lives in the chants, memes, and nicknames fans create to lift their own heroes and mock their foes.