Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe scored a Panenka penalty in his side’s win over Villarreal on Saturday – before dedicating the spot kick to team-mate Brahim Diaz.
Diaz was left in tears on Sunday after missing a last-minute Panenka penalty attempt in astounding fashion to almost certainly cost his Morocco team the Africa Cup of Nations title.
Incredible scenes saw Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw direct his players off the pitch in apparent protest over the late penalty awarded to Morocco in the dying minutes of normal time.
Diaz went down tussling for the ball in the box late on, and the decision over whether it was deserved boiled over into a row between players and coaches – with Thiaw then calling his squad off.
When they eventually returned, Diaz took the penalty in the 24th minute of stoppage time, but dramatically attempted a Panenka – chipped – effort against former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who read the kick.
Eyebrows were raised when Mbappe scored a penalty in the same fashion on Sunday, with his team-mate off the field. After, though, he dedicated the kick to the former Manchester City star.
Kylian Mbappe has dedicated his Panenka penalty goal to AFCON fall guy Brahim Diaz
The dup were on the pitch at the same time when Mbappe scored the spot kick against Villarreal on Sunday
Diaz was left in tears after his Panenka penalty attempt fell flat in the Africa Cup of Nations final last weekend
According to Fabrizio Romano, Mbappe said after the game: ‘[My] Panenka penalty was for Brahim Diaz.’ Diaz was on the field at the time, introduced for Arda Gruler as a second-half substitute.
In the AFCON final, Mendy calmy caught the penalty, and the final whistle was blown not long after to trigger extra time. Diaz, meanwhile, was inconsolable, and his team would eventually go onto lose 1-0 after extra time.
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui appeared frustrated with his player in the break between full-time and the first period of extra time, seen visibly remonstrating with Diaz as others tried to refocus the forward.
The 26-year-old appeared for the first period of extra time, but was ineffective before eventually being substituted in the 98th minute.
Prior to the game, Diaz was the leading goal scorer in the tournament and it finished that way too, with the Morocco man netting five goals – though his total could have been six. He was awkwardly given the Golden Boot by FIFA president Gianni Infantino on the field during the trophy presentation.
Before Madrid’s game on Saturday, meanwhile, Diaz was forced to watch Villarreal celebrate Pape Gueye, who scored the winner in the final, with cameras catching his glum reaction on the bench.
Madrid are getting back on track under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa, with the former defender replacing Xabi Alonso earlier on this month.
They lost his first game in charge to Segunda Division side Albacete Balompie in the Copa Del Rey, causing panic, but have won their three matches since.
Los Blancos have since beaten Levante, Monaco and Villarreal, and are two points ahead of rivals Barcelona in the league table, despite having played a game more.
