Quick Read
- Kylian Mbappe was benched for Real Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona on January 11, 2026, due to a knee sprain.
- Mbappe had sustained the injury in December and was not 100% fit, leading manager Xabi Alonso to not risk him.
- Barcelona’s Raphinha opened the scoring, and the match saw a flurry of goals, with Vinicius Jr., Robert Lewandowski, and Gonzalo Garcia also finding the net.
- Mbappe entered as a substitute in the second half but had limited impact as Barcelona secured a 3-2 victory.
- Barcelona retained the Spanish Super Cup, marking the first time in 16 seasons a team had defended the trophy.
The air in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, crackled with anticipation on Sunday, January 11, 2026. The Spanish Super Cup final was more than just a trophy on the line; it was El Clásico, Real Madrid versus FC Barcelona, a clash of titans that always transcends mere sport. Yet, as the lineups were announced at Alinma Bank Stadium, a collective gasp rippled through the global football community: Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid’s talisman and leading scorer, was not among the starting eleven. He was on the bench, a surprising decision that immediately became the focal point of pre-match discussions.
Mbappe, at 27 years old, has become synonymous with decisive moments and breathtaking goals. His absence from the initial lineup against arch-rivals Barcelona was not a tactical whim but a calculated risk assessment by Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso. The French superstar had been nursing a knee sprain, an injury sustained during a training session back in December. This setback had already kept him out of crucial fixtures, including a league clash against Real Betis and the nail-biting Super Cup semi-final victory over Atlético Madrid. While French media had reported that Mbappe was technically cleared to play, he was still not at 100% fitness, a crucial detail that weighed heavily on Alonso’s mind.
The Road to the Bench: An Injury Saga Unfolds
Mbappe’s journey to the Super Cup final was a saga in itself. After sustaining his knee injury on New Year’s Eve, he was initially sidelined, unable to even join the squad for the semi-final against Atlético Madrid. Stuck in the Spanish capital, the prolific forward could only watch as his teammates battled their way to a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Then, in a move that truly ‘shocked the world,’ as Sports Illustrated reported, Alonso announced that Mbappe would be joining the team in Jeddah, flying in on Friday to train with the squad ahead of the all-important final. This unexpected arrival fueled speculation that he might yet start, adding another layer of intrigue to an already monumental fixture.
However, despite making the trip and participating in training, the decision to bench him was ultimately made. Alonso, a manager known for his meticulous approach, confirmed his stance before the game. ‘Kylian Mbappe is ready to play. It will depend on how the game goes,’ he stated, as per Hindustan Times. This guarded optimism signaled that while Mbappe was available, his deployment would be strategic, reserved for when a critical spark was needed. Gonzalo García was given the nod to start in his place, marking his third consecutive start in Mbappe’s absence.
El Clásico Unfolds: A Goal Fest Without the Star
The match itself was a spectacle, an El Clásico that lived up to its billing, even without Mbappe’s initial presence. Barcelona, under manager Hansi Flick, came out with intent. Just a minute after missing a golden opportunity, Raphinha opened the scoring for the Blaugrana, putting them ahead just before the halftime whistle. But the first half was far from over. What followed was a remarkable flurry of goals, with three finding the net in just five minutes of first-half stoppage time, transforming the game into an instant classic.
Vinicius Jr., who had been enduring a goalless streak of 16 matches, unleashed what many immediately hailed as one of the great El Clásico goals, leveling the score for Real Madrid. Yet, Barcelona’s response was almost immediate, with Robert Lewandowski deftly chipping Thibaut Courtois to regain the lead. The drama wasn’t over; Gonzalo García, stepping in for Mbappe, clumsily equalized again in the 52nd minute of the first half, sending both sets of fans into a frenzy. The score stood at 2-2 as the teams headed for the locker rooms, leaving everyone breathless.
Mbappe’s Entry and Barcelona’s Decisive Blow
As the second half progressed, the intensity remained palpable. Real Madrid pushed for a winner, and with about 15 minutes left on the clock, Xabi Alonso made his move. Kylian Mbappe, the superstar who had been patiently waiting, finally entered the fray, substituted on to provide that much-needed offensive impetus. The crowd roared, a wave of expectation washing over the stadium. Could the French sensation turn the tide?
Unfortunately for Real Madrid, his impact was limited, a testament to his less-than-optimal fitness and the fierce resistance from Barcelona. The decisive blow came from Raphinha, who scored his second goal of the night, 15 minutes from time, sealing Barcelona’s victory. The Catalan giants retained the Spanish Super Cup, marking the first time in 16 seasons that a team had defended the trophy, as reported by The Standard.
Mbappe’s most notable contribution after coming on was, ironically, being on the receiving end of a tough challenge from Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong, an incident that earned the Barca midfielder a late red card. As the final whistle blew, confirming Barcelona’s 3-2 triumph, Mbappe was caught on camera expressing his frustration, a clear sign of his disappointment. He didn’t linger to watch Barcelona lift the trophy, quickly making his way off the pitch.
The Lingering Questions of a Superstar’s Season
This Super Cup final served as a stark reminder of Mbappe’s immense value to Real Madrid. Despite his injury woes, he leads the team with an astonishing 29 goals across all competitions this season, having failed to find the back of the net in only six of his 24 appearances in the 2025-26 season. Replicating his prolific production is indeed an impossible feat for any team, even for the 15-time European champions.
While Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham are formidable talents, they couldn’t quite conjure enough magic to overcome Hansi Flick’s determined Barcelona side on this particular night. The decision to bench Mbappe was undoubtedly a difficult one, balancing the immediate need for a trophy with the long-term health of a generational talent. In the high-stakes world of elite football, such calculations are often agonizing, and sometimes, even the best laid plans don’t yield the desired outcome.
The Spanish Super Cup final highlighted the razor-thin margins at the pinnacle of football, where even the presence of a global superstar like Kylian Mbappe, albeit not fully fit, couldn’t guarantee victory. Real Madrid’s cautious approach with their prized asset was understandable, prioritizing his long-term health over a single trophy, yet it underscores the inherent challenge of managing player welfare in a relentless competitive schedule.