Mbappé addresses viral dictator memes and 'Mobutu' nickname, expressing discomfort with historical comparisons

Mbappé addresses viral dictator memes and a bizarre nickname, admitting the comparisons leave him with mixed feelings/ Image: AP, X

Kylian Mbappé has never been short of attention, but a strange social-media trend surrounding the France and Real Madrid star has taken his fame in a direction he would rather not embrace. Images of Mbappé dressed as a dictator, sitting on a throne and appearing alongside some of history’s most controversial political figures have spread online, turning his footballing influence into the unlikely subject of a viral meme. The 27-year-old can see the joke behind it, but he also believes there is a line that should not be crossed when the humour involves people responsible for immense suffering. Mbappé addressed the trend while reflecting on the way social media can turn almost anything involving a high-profile footballer into a running joke. For him, the problem is not simply being mocked or given an exaggerated nickname. It is the historical weight attached to the figures he is being compared with.

Mbappé explains why he is uncomfortable with the dictator comparisons

The origin of the meme remains unclear. One possible explanation links it to Mbappé’s decision to sue a kebab shop owner in 2024 over the use of his name in the description of a sandwich. Others have speculated that the images are a joke about the level of influence Mbappé has reportedly wielded at Real Madrid and previously at Paris Saint-Germain. The memes have taken several forms. Mbappé has been portrayed wearing military uniforms, sitting on a throne and standing alongside controversial historical leaders, including Soviet leader Josef Stalin. Speaking to L’Équipe, Mbappé acknowledged that some people clearly intend the images as harmless fun. However, he said the comparisons become uncomfortable because of the real-world consequences associated with the people being referenced. “It is in part funny because you get the sense that, for some people, it's all in good fun,” Mbappé said. “But there is also the part that is not so funny, because we know the damage this genre of people have caused throughout history.” Mbappé was particularly uncomfortable with being compared with people responsible for mass suffering. “To be compared to people who murder others, or who have caused misery for millions and millions of people ... I don't think I've ever done anything like that in my life. So there's a mix of things.” The France international added that he understands the light-hearted intention behind the trend, but believes it can also reveal something about the people sharing it. “On the one hand, I know it's done in a lighthearted way and it isn't meant to be taken too far, but it perhaps shows a lack of political and human awareness in people.”

Dembélé’s “Mobutu” nickname is a different kind of joke

The subject also brought up a nickname given to Mbappé by his France teammate Ousmane Dembélé: “Mobutu”. The name refers to Mobutu Sese Seko, the former dictator who ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo, which he renamed Zaire, from 1965 until 1997.

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Mbappé appeared to take that particular joke much more lightly. “Ousmane, he is something different,” Mbappé said with a smile. “He found it on social media! He's just having a laugh.” The meme discussion comes as Mbappé continues to make headlines for considerably more conventional reasons on the pitch. The France captain has started the 2026-27 season strongly for Real Madrid, scoring five goals in his first five games of the campaign. He is next due to feature on Saturday night when José Mourinho’s side host Rayo Vallecano.

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