Late Panenka, Big Heart: Mbappe Delivers Madrid Victory and Comforts Diaz

Mbappe's late Panenka seals the win at Villarreal

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe helped seal a 2-0 La Liga win at Villarreal by converting a late penalty with a Panenka in the 94th minute, after he had opened the scoring in the 47th minute.

In a moment that underscored camaraderie, Mbappe went over to comfort teammate Ibrahim Diaz, who had recently missed a late penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final against Senegal and was seen in tears.

Diaz's AFCON memory and Mbappe's gesture

Cameras captured Mbappe embracing Diaz after his successful spot kick and telling him: "For you... for you."

The moment was later highlighted by the Spanish show El Chiringuito, which aired a clip of Mbappe leaving the pitch and remarking that the penalty was "a memory for Ibrahim Diaz."

Diaz had cried after the AFCON final, where Morocco lost to Senegal in the final. Mbappe's gesture offered a contrasting note of support on a night of footballing drama.

Punchline: If clutch performances had a flavor, Mbappe's Panenka would be a shot of espresso—bold, brief, and unforgettable. Punchline 2: Diaz learned that sometimes in football, a hug can count as a secret assist when the whistle goes and the pressure hits.