Daily News
How a Mao meme turned into a China crisis for Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga
In late October 2026, Kylian Mbappé faced a commercial and public relations crisis in China after a backstage clip about a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong spread online. Three Chinese companies ended their deals, state television suspended La Liga broadcasts, and Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga all issued apologies.