China: Mbappé’s Mao Zedong remark costs him two sponsors

Kylian Mbappé lost his partnerships with Chinese companies Dongpeng and Mengniu on October 27, 2026, after a video circulated in which he joked about a meme placing his face on Mao Zedong. Asked about his favourite meme at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, the Real Madrid forward said he found it very funny and often shared it with friends. Dongpeng, for which Mbappé promoted the Bushuaila rehydration drink, announced the immediate end of their partnership, citing a zero-tolerance policy toward conduct that hurts national sentiment. Mengniu issued a similar statement, and Dongpeng’s announcement became the most discussed topic on Weibo.