Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has issued a formal apology after sparking intense backlash in China over comments regarding an internet meme portraying him as Mao Zedong. The controversy erupted after video footage surfaced showing the French striker reacting to memes, where he admitted to laughing at an image depicting him as the former Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, who led the nation from 1949 to 1976. In the recording, Mbappe allegedly laughed and referred to Mao as a 'Chinese dictator.' Facing an immediate outcry, Mbappe posted statements across his social media platforms in English, French, and Chinese, acknowledging his words were ill-judged and extending his sincere apologies to the Chinese people and Chinese communities across the globe.
The commercial fallout in China was immediate, with several prominent companies ending their relationships with the superstar. Prominent beverage brand Dongpeng, which had featured Mbappe's likeness on bottles during the World Cup, dropped the forward from all products, affirming that the company holds a zero-tolerance stance toward actions that hurt national sentiments. Mengniu, recognised as the largest dairy business in China, alongside cheesemaker Milkground, also severed all commercial ties with the player. Furthermore, Chinese state outlet The Paper reported that CCTV, China's largest broadcaster, is poised to pull all LaLiga match broadcasts and cancel all advertising featuring Mbappe.
In response to the broadcast threat and the growing dispute, LaLiga acted to distance the league from Mbappe's remarks and offered its own apology to the people of China. League chairman Javier Tebas issued a statement expressing personal remorse to Chinese supporters and highlighting his respect for the nation, its people, and its institutions. Tebas pledged to lead efforts among clubs and players to improve cultural awareness and respect, committing to concrete actions designed to preserve the division's relationship with Chinese supporters and guarantee similar situations do not happen again.
The off-pitch controversy compounded a difficult period for Mbappe, who was also in London as he missed out on the Ballon d'Or, finishing second behind Harry Kane. Although Mbappe finished as the leading goalscorer in LaLiga, the Champions League, and the World Cup, he concluded the 2025/26 campaign without silverware for club or country. France Football editor Vincent Garcia detailed the narrow margin of the vote, revealing that Mbappe had held the lead for a significant portion of the voting period before Kane mounted a late comeback to secure the honour by a very small number of points.