The passing of Diogo Jota sent shockwaves through the soccer world, and tributes poured in throughout the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Among the many who honored the late Portuguese forward, Kylian Mbappe made a heartfelt gesture during Real Madrid’s clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Fighting for a place in the semifinals, Real Madrid found themselves under pressure in the final minutes of the match. Mbappé, who came on in the 67th minute for Trent Alexander-Arnold, marked his return to scoring after recovering from a bout of acute gastroenteritis.
Rodrygo attracted multiple defenders on the right flank, creating space for Arda Güler to deliver a pinpoint cross into the box. Mbappe slipped behind his marker and produced a stunning overhead kick to score Real Madrid’s third goal.
With his goal in the 90+4th minute, Mbappe sealed a 3–1 victory for Real Madrid. As he sprinted toward the corner flag, the French superstar faced the camera, forming the number 20 with his hands before pressing them together in a prayer motion—an emotional tribute to Jota and his legacy.
Earlier on Saturday, Ousmane Dembele also paid homage to Jota after scoring for Paris Saint-Germain in their 2–0 win over Bayern Munich. Now another global star has joined the growing list of players using their moment on the world stage to honor the former Liverpool forward’s memory.
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Video: Dembele honors Diogo Jota with celebration after scoring for 9-man PSG vs. Bayern
Mbappe’s return to goal-scoring form
Club World Cup fans hadn’t seen much of Mbappe in this tournament, as he was sidelined and briefly hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis. His first appearance came on Tuesday, when he logged just 22 minutes against Juventus.
Now, against Dortmund, he found the back of the net again—setting expectations high for his return to full form ahead of a possible semifinal showdown against PSG. Mbappe’s last goal had come on June 8 in the UEFA Nations League third-place match against Germany. It took him only 45 minutes at the Club World Cup to get back on the scoresheet.
