The Spanish Supercopa de España final may have been played nearly 3,000 miles away from Europe, but the emotion, rivalry and respect on display in Jeddah struck a chord with football fans across the UK.
Barcelona’s dramatic 3–2 victory over Real Madrid at the Alinma Stadium delivered more than just silverware.
Behind the scenes, cameras from Movistar+’s El Día Después captured moments that revealed the human side of football’s fiercest rivalry, involving Florentino Perez, Robert Lewandowski, Joan Laporta, and Ronald Araújo.
What happened between Florentino Perez and Robert Lewandowski?
As Barcelona players queued to collect their winners’ medals, Florentino Perez, standing beside Barça president Joan Laporta, personally congratulated each player, a rare but telling gesture of sportsmanship.
When Robert Lewandowski stepped forward, Perez greeted him with a smiling but resigned remark: “You bastard.” (as captured by Movistar+ cameras)
El ‘recado’ de Florentino Pérez a Lewandowski en la entrega de medallas de la #SuperSupercopa 😂pic.twitter.com/z4nFwxRHvF
— MARCA (@marca) January 12, 2026
The words were clearly affectionate rather than hostile, an acknowledgement of Lewandowski’s enduring class at the age of 37.
Moments earlier, Lewandowski had scored a stunning goal, delicately chipping the ball over Thibaut Courtois after a clever pass from Pedri. It was a goal worthy of the occasion, and one Perez had seen far too often.
How dominant has Lewandowski been against Real Madrid?
Lewandowski’s record against Madrid is exceptional and stretches across three elite clubs.
Lewandowski vs Real Madrid – Career Breakdown
| Club | Goals vs Real Madrid |
|---|---|
| Barcelona | 6 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 5 |
| Bayern Munich | 1 |
| Total | 12 |
Spanish Super Cup Finals Record
- Scored in every Supercopa final against Madrid
- 4 goals in 4 finals
- 3 wins (2023, 2025, 2026)
- 1 defeat (2024)
His most famous display came back in 2013, when he scored four goals for Dortmund against Madrid in a Champions League semi-final, a tie that ended Real’s European hopes that season.
For many observers, Lewandowski is now considered one of the most consistent penalty-box finishers football has ever seen.
Why was Ronald Araújo’s return so emotional for Barcelona?
While Lewandowski grabbed headlines, the emotional heart of the night belonged to Ronald Araújo.
The Uruguayan defender returned to action after being sidelined since 25 November due to mental health challenges, a subject still rarely discussed openly in elite football.
Barcelona made a point of respecting his recovery timeline, offering support without pressure.
How did Araújo influence the final moments?
In stoppage time, Barcelona were reduced to 10 men after Frenkie de Jong was sent off in the 91st minute.
Despite the pressure, head coach Hansi Flick trusted Araújo to see out the match.
Araújo responded with a tireless defensive display, helping prevent a late Madrid equaliser during the most tense minutes of the final.
At full time, teammates lifted him into the air, while Joan Laporta shared a deeply personal moment with the defender.
Laporta was seen whispering “t’estimo” (“I love you”) to Araújo, according to Movistar+ footage.
Araújo later thanked the club publicly, both on the pitch and during the team’s flight back to Barcelona.
Why moments like this matter beyond the pitch?
Football rivalries are often framed as hostile, but scenes involving Florentino Perez, Lewandowski, and Laporta showed another side, one built on respect, shared history, and human connection.
Mental health support, veteran excellence, and sporting grace all played their part in one of the most memorable Supercopa finals in recent years.
