Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov sparked a viral moment after a clip surfaced of him shouting “Hala Madrid” during a padel match alongside soccer icon Andrés Iniesta. The phrase, closely associated with Real Madrid, was widely interpreted as playful football banter directed at Iniesta, a legendary Barcelona figure, who was taking part in the same game.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Steals The Spotlight With “Hala Madrid” Jab
The clip began circulating on X shortly before Nurmagomedov’s scheduled appearance at the inaugural World Sports Summit, set to take place in Dubai on December 29 and 30, 2025. The high-profile event will unite elite athletes, sports executives, and policymakers for discussions on the future of sport, emerging technologies, and global sports governance.
The short clip was shared by various combat sports outlets, quickly drawing reactions from both MMA and soccer fans. The moment stood out because of the long-standing rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona, with Iniesta synonymous with Barcelona’s most dominant era.
The post’s caption read, “Khabib Nurmagomedov trolling Andres Iniesta (Barcelona legend) by shouting Hala Madrid during his padel game.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov trolling Andres Iniesta (Barcelona legend) by shouting “Hala Madrid” during his padel game 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/nz4E5biLEe
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) December 27, 2025
The Dagestani has previously made his support for Real Madrid unmistakably clear. In late May, he attended the UEFA Champions League final at Munich’s Allianz Arena alongside Islam Makhachev and was on the pitch after the final whistle as PSG celebrated their landmark triumph.
Following the match, Nurmagomedov and Makhachev joined the post-game festivities. During the interaction, Nurmagomedov was heard chanting, “One. Two. Three… Hala Madrid!” The moment was captured on video and later shared by TNT Sports on Instagram with the caption, “One. Two. Three… Hala Madrid! 🤣😅 Khabib’s got jokes 😂.”
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A UFC Hall of Famer, Nurmagomedov retired from mixed martial arts with a flawless 29–0 professional record and three successful defenses of the UFC lightweight title. He made his final Octagon appearance at UFC 254 back in 2020, submitting Justin Gaethje. Since retiring, Nurmagomedov has regularly been spotted at major football matches across Europe, often publicly backing Real Madrid.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Claps Back At Zlatan Ibrahimović’s “Good, Bad and Ugly” Post With Playful Jab
Former AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimović recently shared a light-hearted moment from a private gathering in Europe that also featured Khabib Nurmagomedov and Paul Pogba. The meetup, which included Ibrahimović’s sons Maximilian and Vincent, quickly caught attention on social media thanks to Zlatan’s playful caption and Khabib’s sharp comeback.
Ibrahimović posted a photo showing himself locked in a friendly arm wrestle with Nurmagomedov as Pogba looked on. He captioned the image, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”
Nurmagomedov was quick to respond in the comments, firing back with a brief but pointed reply: “I’m not ugly.”
During the same gathering, Nurmagomedov also shared photos on Instagram posing with Ibrahimović and his sons, along with another image capturing the arm-wrestling moment between the two global sports icons. The exchange was widely seen as light-hearted banter between elite athletes from very different sporting worlds.
As already stated, Nurmagomedov retired from professional mixed martial arts with a flawless 29–0 record, including three successful defenses of the UFC lightweight title. Since stepping away from competition, he has remained a high-profile presence at major sporting events across Europe.
Zlatan Ibrahimović, who retired from professional football in 2023, now serves as an operating partner for RedBird Capital, the ownership group of AC Milan. Paul Pogba returned to competitive football earlier this summer after completing an 18-month suspension related to a doping violation.
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He joined AS Monaco on a free transfer following the termination of his Juventus contract. The 32-year-old midfielder has made three Ligue 1 appearances for Monaco this season, all as a substitute, totaling 30 minutes of action. Monaco recorded one win and two defeats in those matches, with Pogba yet to register a goal or assist.
Pogba and Ibrahimović previously played together at Manchester United, appearing in 46 matches. During that span, they combined for five goals, all scored by Ibrahimović and assisted by Pogba.
