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Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe apologizes after Mao meme comments amid growing backlash in China

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has issued a formal apology following a significant backlash in China triggered by his remarks regarding a meme featuring Mao Zedong. The controversy began after the player discussed the image during a French talk show appearance, leading to immediate condemnation from Chinese state media and the termination of partnerships with major sponsors Mengniu and Dongpeng.

This incident follows previous public discourse regarding memes comparing Mbappe to various historical dictators, a topic the striker had addressed in a separate interview earlier this year. The situation escalated quickly after the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, where the athlete failed to secure an award.

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