Why Mbappe Took a Panenka Penalty

Kylian Mbappe demonstrated his growing influence in the Real Madrid dressing room by dedicating a Panenka penalty to teammate Brahim Diaz during a recent match against Villarreal.

After being fouled in stoppage time, Mbappe chipped a penalty down the middle and immediately embraced Diaz, telling him, “For you.” He later confirmed to Marca that the gesture was intentional support for the midfielder.

Diaz faced significant criticism following AFCON 2025, where his missed Panenka penalty in the final contributed to Morocco’s defeat against Senegal.

This public backing follows Mbappe’s recent defense of Vinicius Jr. from fan criticism, further cementing his role as a vocal leader within the squad.