France captain and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is currently going through a rough patch. Just hours after losing the 2026 Ballon d'Or to Harry Kane, Mbappe also lost several of his collaborations and sponsorships with Chinese companies worth a few million.
The controversy began after a video went viral in which Mbappé was heard saying that the funniest meme he had seen of himself was one where his face had been photoshopped onto that of a dictator. And the person in question was Mao Zedong.
In China, creating satire or jokes about Mao Zedong, who ruled from 1949 until he died in 1976, is considered disrespectful and remains a social taboo. Shortly after the controversy became a worldwide phenomenon and had everyone talking, Mbappe officially apologized, followed by apologies from the La Liga president.
Chinese beverage brand Dongpeng and dairy companies Mengniu and Milkground ended their collaboration with Mbappe, and this was soon followed by CMG, which also banned the broadcast of La Liga in the nation.
With both a vast reputation and considerable financial stakes involved, Real Madrid, Mbappe's club, has now publicly apologised. “Real Madrid C. F. wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any discomfort that may have been caused by the recent words of our player Kylian Mbappé. Our club holds deep respect for China, its history, its culture, and its citizens, as well as for the millions of Chinese fans who feel affection and admiration for Real Madrid.
“The club joins the public apology expressed by Kylian Mbappé, in which the player himself has conveyed his regret for his words and reiterated his respect for the Chinese people.
Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to the values of respect, coexistence, and understanding among cultures, and expresses its desire to continue strengthening the bonds of friendship and affection that unite it with China and its citizens,” Real Madrid wrote.
The French captain's statement on Mao Zedong has been taken very seriously in China, with the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu freezing Mbappe's account, as well as Dior and Hublot removing their campaigns with Mbappe. Al Jazeera also noted that while Adidas stores in Beijing had Real Madrid kits on display, none bore Mbappe's name.