⚽️ La Liga
Oct 29, 2026
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1 min read
Kylian Mbappé’s China crisis shows how sensitive Mao’s legacy remains | Rebecca Bailey
Real Madrid forward was dropped by brands for comments Chinese media generally steered clear of outlining
It’s been a bad start to the week for the Kylian Mbappé. The France forward missed out on joining the elite roster of Ballon d’Or winners and instead became the latest high-profile addition to a far less illustrious list – that of foreign brands and individuals charged with “hurting the feelings of the Chinese people”.
The saga began when a video of the Real Madrid player making light of a meme involving him and China’s former leader Mao Zedong began spreading.