Mbappé loses contracts with three Chinese companies due to controversial Mao Zedong meme

French footballer Kylian Mbappé, a forward for Real Madrid, is facing a commercial controversy in China after three major companies announced on Tuesday the cancellation of their advertising agreements with the player, following his comments regarding a meme that compares him to the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

The companies Dongpeng Beverage Group, Mengniu, and Milkground decided to end their ties with the attacker after he admitted, during an interview, that he found a viral image in which his face appears over the portrait of the former communist leader amusing.

The controversy arose when Mbappé was asked about his favorite meme and replied that one of the ones he found most amusing was the one where they placed his face on the image of a “Chinese dictator”.

“The one I’ve laughed at the most is the one where they use my face on a Chinese dictator. I use it a lot with my friends,” the footballer expressed, without directly mentioning Mao Zedong.

Mbappé loses major advertising deals in China

Dongpeng Beverage Group was one of the first companies to announce the immediate termination of its business relationship with the French forward.

The company issued statements through the social network Weibo, both on its corporate account and that of its brand Bu Shui La, in which it defended a zero-tolerance policy toward behaviors considered offensive to national sentiments.

Although the documents did not directly specify the statements that motivated the decision, the announcement came after the footballer’s comments circulated on social media.

Dairy companies Mengniu and Milkground also confirmed the termination of their agreements with Mbappé and expressed their rejection of conduct that could affect the sensibilities of the Chinese population.

The decision represents a setback for the player’s commercial image in the Asian market, where he had starred in numerous advertising campaigns.

The Mao Zedong meme that sparked controversy

Over the last few months, an image showing Mbappé’s face over a portrait of Mao Zedong had become popular among soccer fans on various digital platforms.

The edited photograph became the subject of jokes and comments, until the footballer himself publicly acknowledged that he used it to have fun with his friends.

However, satirical references to former leaders and figures linked to the Chinese Communist Party constitute an especially sensitive matter in the Asian country.

In China, there are legal provisions that sanction certain expressions considered defamatory against national heroes and martyrs, which has generated controversies related to content published on the internet.

Chinese brands withdraw commercial support for the striker

Mbappé’s image had been widely used in promotional campaigns for Bu Shui La, with advertisements placed on buses, bus shelters, and elevators in different Chinese cities.

The footballer’s advertising presence increased especially during the summer, coinciding with the celebration of the 2026 World Cup.

Mengniu, one of China’s leading dairy companies, maintains a significant presence in international sports sponsorship through agreements related to football competitions and the Olympic movement.

For its part, Milkground had also resorted to the image of the French forward to promote its products.

Other controversies in Spanish football in China

Mbappé’s controversy adds to several recent episodes involving Spanish clubs and Chinese companies or institutions.

In September, Chinese state media criticized Real Madrid for a post related to Nepal and Tibet, the wording of which was considered inappropriate by the local press.

Likewise, FC Barcelona offered apologies in April after a Taiwan flag appeared on a page linked to its international academy and managed by a third party.

In February, Real Madrid also issued apologies on the Weibo platform regarding a post shared by defender Dean Huijsen that was considered offensive to Asian citizens.

So far, the information released regarding the termination of the contracts does not include details about possible financial compensation or the duration of the cancelled commercial agreements.