Dictator meme shows lack of human awareness – Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe, the Real Madrid and France football star, has spoken out against a meme circulating online that places his face on the body of a dictator. The 27-year-old French forward, while acknowledging there is a humorous aspect to the AI-generated image, expressed concern that it downplays serious historical issues. Speaking in an interview with France Football, Mbappe said: "There's a funny side to it because you can sense that, for some people, it's good-natured.

'Then there’s a side that’s a bit less funny, because we know the damage people like that have caused throughout history. 'Being compared to people who murder others, or who have made millions upon millions of people miserable… I don’t think I’ve done that in my life." The meme has been used by some fans to highlight Mbappe's dominance in matches or his influence at clubs.

However, Mbappe emphasized that such comparisons to historical figures who committed atrocities are deeply troubling. He also referenced the "Mobut" nickname given to him by France teammate Ousmane Dembele during the 2026 World Cup, which is derived from Mobutu Sese Seko, the dictator who ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo for three decades.

"Ousmane, that’s a different thing. He took that from social media. He’s just having a laugh," Mbappé said.