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Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe issued an apology on Tuesday after comments he made about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong led several sponsors to drop him and drew a backlash from Chinese state television, as reported by CBS Sports Headlines. The international controversy unfolded the day after the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, involving China, Mbappe, and LaLiga.
Origins of the Controversy
The situation began when Mbappe appeared on the French talk show “The Bridge” and discussed a recurring internet joke. The player stated that the meme “that makes me laugh the most, it’s the one where there’s a video of a guy, I think it’s a Chinese dictator…” while a clip displayed his face on an image resembling Mao. The recurring joke often associates Mbappe with the word “dictator” due to his influence in football and interactions with teammates. During the 2026 World Cup, 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele referred to him as “Mbappe Mobut,” invoking the Congolese dictator Mobutu. In September, Mbappe addressed these memes with France Football, noting that while he understood the jokes, they sometimes lack political awareness and touch on historical suffering.
Following his recent remarks, two Chinese corporate partners ended their deals with the French forward. Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, stated that it firmly opposes and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. Drinks giant Dongpeng issued a similar statement on Tuesday, expressing zero tolerance for behavior that offends national sentiments. According to the state-owned Global Times newspaper, apps belonging to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV removed player-related news and stopped streaming LaLiga matches.
Historical Context and Official Reactions
Mao Zedong founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and led the Communist Party until 1976. The Chinese Communist Party still governs the country and views memes and jokes about Mao as an insult to the party and the nation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that they noted the reports and emphasized that words and deeds hurting the feelings of the Chinese people will face opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.
Mbappe released a statement addressing the incident, saying, “During a recent interview with me, I commented on an image of myself, but my comment was not appropriate, and I now realise that it hurt the feelings of many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone whom my words upset, as that was never my intention at all. I hold deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I express my sincere regret.”
LaLiga and Real Madrid Responses
LaLiga also released a statement addressing the offense caused to Chinese fans, noting that Mbappe’s remarks were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the organization. LaLiga offered an apology on behalf of the league and all its clubs, while announcing plans to introduce an awareness and communication protocol to promote cultural respect and prevent future incidents.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas wrote on X that he cannot allow individual actions to damage relationships or harm professional clubs and Chinese fans, adding that they are taking all measures to resolve the situation. Real Madrid C. F. subsequently issued an official statement expressing apologies to the Chinese people, reaffirming the club’s respect for China, its history, culture, and citizens, and joining Mbappe in expressing regret.
