Vinicius Junior refused to take part in Barcelona’s guard of honor before the Spanish Super Cup final, as the Brazilian winger walked straight past the Blaugrana players without stopping. The incident took place before kick-off in Jeddah, where Barcelona lined up to applaud Real Madrid as Spanish league champions — a traditional gesture in Spanish football.
The Real Madrid star ignored the protocol and continued walking toward the tunnel, leaving Barcelona players waiting. His teammates followed him, and only a few Madrid players briefly acknowledged the gesture before the match started.
Barcelona, on the other hand, are preparing for what club sources describe as “the biggest trap” of the season. According to information obtained by the club’s technical staff, Real Madrid plan to use an aggressive high press in the first 15 minutes to force early errors and take control of the game.
Xavi Hernandez’s side have studied Madrid’s recent matches and identified a pattern: Carlo Ancelotti’s team tend to start at maximum intensity, especially in finals. Barcelona’s coaching staff have warned the players not to lose possession in dangerous areas during the opening phase.
The match, scheduled for Sunday January 14, 2026, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, is the first Clasico of the new year. Both teams arrive in good form, but the tension around the guard of honor incident has added extra spice to an already heated rivalry.
Barcelona sources confirmed that the club had prepared a special reception for Madrid, but Vinicius’s reaction caught everyone by surprise. “We expected respect for the champion,” a Barcelona official said. “But it seems some players have their own rules.”
Real Madrid have not commented on the incident. However, sources close to the dressing room say Vinicius felt the guard of honor was unnecessary, as Barcelona had not shown the same gesture when Madrid won the league last season.
The final kicks off at 9:00 PM local time, with both teams chasing the first trophy of 2026. Barcelona are looking to avenge their 4-1 defeat in last year’s final, while Madrid aim to retain the Super Cup for the first time since 2020.
