French footballer Kylian Mbappe has lost sponsorship deals with three Chinese companies following a backlash over his remarks about an internet meme featuring former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, Forbes reported. The Real Madrid forward subsequently apologised, saying his comment was poorly judged and had hurt people in China and Chinese communities worldwide.
Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu and cheese manufacturer Milkground announced that they were ending their commercial associations with the France captain on Tuesday. The decisions followed the circulation of a video in which Mbappe described a meme featuring his digitally altered face as one of the funniest images of himself he had seen online.
In the clip, Mbappe referred to the person in the image as “some guy” whom he believed was a Chinese dictator. Although he did not name Mao, the video showed the footballer’s face superimposed on an image of the former leader, triggering criticism on Chinese social media.
Dongpeng said it would immediately end its cooperation with Mbappe, citing its opposition to conduct that offends national sentiments. Mengniu issued a similar statement, saying it would not tolerate words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. Milkground also terminated its partnership with the footballer, according to the Associated Press.
Mbappe apologises for remarks
Responding to the controversy, Mbappe said his reaction during a recent interview had been ill-judged and that he understood why it had caused offence.
He expressed respect for the Chinese people and their history, adding that hurting their sentiments had not been his intention. His apology came after the video attracted widespread attention online.
The controversy also prompted a response from La Liga, the Spanish football league in which Mbappe’s club, Real Madrid, competes.
La Liga expressed regret over the offence caused to Chinese fans and clarified that the footballer’s comments were made in a personal capacity and did not reflect the league’s views.
Fallout extends beyond sponsorships
The incident has also raised questions about the potential impact on football broadcasts in China. State-run newspaper The Paper reported that public television was suspending broadcasts of La Liga matches. Spanish newspaper El País also reported that Chinese state broadcaster CCTV had stopped airing the league, although the duration of the suspension remained unclear.
Mbappe had built a substantial following among Chinese football fans before the incident. Dongpeng had also used AI-generated images of the French forward drinking its sports beverage in advertising associated with this year’s FIFA World Cup.
The sponsorship decisions represent a commercial setback for the footballer, whose income includes both earnings from football and brand partnerships. Forbes estimated his total income for 2026 at $100 million, comprising $70 million from on-field earnings and $30 million from commercial deals and sponsorships.
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