Kylian Mbappe repeats Cristiano Ronaldo-style gesture before Real Madrid’s Inter clash

Kylian Mbappe removed a sports drink from the table during the news conference before Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League meeting with Inter, echoing famous gestures previously made by Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James.

The France forward was speaking at Real Madrid’s training complex in Valdebebas when he moved the bottle away from the cameras, while leaving a bottle of water in front of him.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Mbappe’s decision reflected his established approach to the products displayed alongside him in public appearances. He has previously been selective about being pictured with alcohol, fast food and other drinks or foods that he does not wish to promote.

The incident recalled one of the most widely shared moments involving Ronaldo at Euro 2020, which was held in 2021 after being postponed.

During a Portugal news conference at that tournament, Ronaldo moved two bottles of a fizzy drink away from his position before holding up a bottle of water and saying: “Water, yes, this, no.”

The footage quickly spread around the world and became a prominent example of the influence leading footballers can have on the commercial image of tournaments and their sponsors.

However, the practice of removing or hiding sponsor products during media conferences did not begin with Ronaldo. Its roots can be traced to basketball, particularly to LeBron James.

At the 2014 NBA Finals, James suffered severe cramps during a game against San Antonio Spurs. The league’s sponsoring company then entered the controversy with a post on social media that attracted widespread attention.

The company wrote: “We were prepared, but the player who suffered cramps does not drink our product.”

From that point onwards, James became associated with a number of similar incidents. During news conferences, he was repeatedly careful to cover or remove the company’s logo from bottles placed in front of him, because he had links to a rival brand.

James was not the only basketball player to take that approach. Other prominent players, including Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson, also took comparable steps when sponsor products appeared before them.

Mbappe has previously attracted attention for his position on commercial associations and the use of his image. At the 2022 World Cup, the France international notably avoided being clearly photographed with the logo of the official sponsor of the player-of-the-match award.

That decision was linked to his policy of not associating his image with alcohol, betting or certain food and fast-food products.

The latest gesture came before Real Madrid’s encounter with Inter and again highlighted the importance that Mbappe places on controlling the brands and products with which he is publicly linked. His decision to leave the water bottle in place while removing the sports drink also ensured that his preference was visible during the Valdebebas news conference.