WATCH: Kylian Mbappe Presents Rafael Nadal With His Real Madrid Shirt After LaLiga Debut

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe made his La Liga debut, featuring in the season opener against Mallorca. The French superstar, however, failed to produce anything significant in the away fixture, which ended in a draw.

After the game was over, Mbappe was captured interacting with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who was present at the Mallorca Son Moix Stadium to enjoy the La Liga match. The World Cup-winning footballer was leaving the venue when he met Nadal near the exit gate. The duo shared a warm hug before Mbappe took out his Real Madrid shirt from a backpack and presented it to Nadal.

A clip, featuring their heartwarming interaction, was shared on social media and caught the attention of many sports enthusiasts. The Tennis Letter shared the video on X (formerly Twitter) along with a caption that read, “Kylian Mbappe gave Rafa Nadal his Real Madrid jersey. Iconic moment between two of the biggest athletes in the world.”

Nadal is recognised as the “favourite” tennis player of Mbappe. Earlier in 2017 when the French Open was underway, Mbappe had expressed his desire to meet Nadal.

“It’s Nadal who really fascinates me. I didn’t have the opportunity to meet him, but I would like to. Nadal is my favourite because he’s incredible on clay,” Mbappe told France TV, as quoted by the Mirror. A few years later, the former Paris Saint-Germain striker finally got the opportunity to fulfill his wish. During an interview in 2021, Mbappe revealed that he had met Rafael Nadal as well as Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer at the French Open.

“I watch basketball and tennis a lot. At Roland Garros, where I love to go, I had the opportunity to chat with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. I admire these champions who have been able to stay on top for many years. It’s not for everyone to have such consistency,” Mbappe was quoted by the Mirror as saying to Paris Match magazine.

Kylian Mbappe demonstrated his scoring prowess in his first appearance for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup final. He netted the second goal of the match as Los Blancos secured the title on the back of a 2-0 win.