Chinese beverage companies Dongpeng Beverage and Mengniu announced the end of their commercial partnerships with the France and Real Madrid forward after a video circulated online. The clip’s authenticity had not been independently verified in the initial reporting.
Kylian Mbappé has lost two commercial partnerships in China after a video circulated online in which the French footballer appeared to make a joke about an internet meme depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
Dongpeng Beverage, a Chinese drinks company, and dairy producer Mengniu announced on October 27, 2026, that they were ending their respective collaborations with the Real Madrid and France forward. Both companies cited objections to conduct they said offended Chinese national sentiment, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporting published by Yahoo Sports and a report by Gulf News.
The dispute centres on a video in which Mbappé reportedly described an internet meme featuring his face edited onto the image of a Chinese dictator. The reference appeared to be to Mao, who led China for decades and died in 1976.
However, AFP reported that the authenticity of the circulating video could not immediately be verified. The distinction is important: the brands’ reported decisions are separate from the question of whether the clip accurately represents Mbappé’s words and the context in which they were spoken.
What did Dongpeng and Mengniu announce?
Dongpeng said it would terminate all cooperation with Mbappé with immediate effect. In its statement, the company said it opposed behaviour that offended national sentiment and maintained a zero-tolerance position on the issue.
Mengniu issued a similar announcement, confirming that it was ending its cooperation with the footballer. The dairy producer also cited its opposition to words or actions it considered hurtful to Chinese people, AFP reported.
The announcements place the controversy beyond online criticism and into the commercial sphere. Athlete endorsements connect a public figure’s reputation with a company’s products, advertising and brand identity. When a controversy reaches a major consumer market, the commercial relationship can come under pressure.
Neither announcement, as reported by AFP, establishes that the video was independently authenticated.
Why is the Mao reference controversial?
Mao Zedong was a central figure in the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and remained the country’s dominant political leader until his death in 1976. His legacy is deeply intertwined with modern Chinese history and remains politically and culturally sensitive.
The circulating clip reportedly involved Mbappé referring to a meme that placed his face over the image of a Chinese dictator. That reference triggered a backlash in China, with the issue attracting attention on the social media platform Weibo. AFP reported that Dongpeng’s decision to end its partnership became a trending topic there.
The episode follows earlier online memes portraying Mbappé as an authoritarian figure. In September, the footballer discussed the trend in an interview with France Football, acknowledging that some people intended the memes as humour while expressing discomfort with comparisons to historical figures associated with mass suffering.
The Associated Press reported on September 11 that Mbappé had criticised the political and human implications of such comparisons. That earlier discussion provides context for the meme trend, but it does not independently establish the authenticity or full context of the newer video linked to the Chinese sponsorship decisions.
What could the controversy mean for Mbappé’s commercial image?
The immediate reported consequence is the loss of two brand partnerships. The available reports do not establish the financial value of the agreements, whether either company is seeking compensation, or whether further sponsors intend to change their arrangements with the player.
For international athletes, sponsorships depend on more than sporting performance. Companies also consider whether a public figure’s image fits their target market and whether an association could create reputational difficulties.
China is an important market for consumer brands, and the response from Dongpeng and Mengniu illustrates how quickly an online controversy can become a commercial issue. However, it would be premature to conclude that the incident will affect all of Mbappé’s endorsements or his playing career.
The reported terminations concern commercial relationships. They do not, by themselves, indicate any disciplinary action by Real Madrid, the French national team or football’s governing bodies.
As of October 27, the central unresolved issue in the reporting remains the verification of the circulating video. Any further assessment of Mbappé’s remarks, or the possibility of additional commercial consequences, will depend on reliable evidence and subsequent statements from the parties involved.
Q1. Why did Kylian Mbappé lose two Chinese sponsors?
Dongpeng Beverage and Mengniu announced that they were ending their partnerships with Mbappé after a controversial video circulated online involving a meme referencing Mao Zedong. Both companies cited objections to conduct they considered offensive to Chinese national sentiment.
Q2. Which companies ended their partnerships with Mbappé?
The companies were Dongpeng Beverage, a Chinese drinks producer, and Mengniu, a major Chinese dairy producer.
Q3. What was the Mao Zedong meme controversy about?
A circulating video reportedly showed Mbappé joking about a meme that superimposed his face onto the image of a Chinese dictator, apparently referring to Mao Zedong. The clip’s authenticity had not been independently verified in the initial AFP report.
Q4. When did the companies announce their decisions?
Both companies announced the termination of their partnerships on October 27, 2026, according to AFP reporting.
Q5. Did Kylian Mbappé confirm that the video was authentic?
The reports consulted do not establish that Mbappé confirmed the video’s authenticity. AFP reported that the clip could not immediately be verified.
Q6. Will the controversy affect Mbappé’s position at Real Madrid?
The reported sponsorship decisions do not establish any effect on his playing status. No disciplinary action by Real Madrid or a football governing body is confirmed in the sources consulted.
Q7. Could Mbappé lose other sponsorships?
That remains uncertain. The reports consulted do not confirm further sponsorship terminations or quantify the financial impact of the two reported decisions.
Q8. Does the controversy have a direct impact on UAE football fans?
No direct impact on UAE football competitions or residents has been established. The story is relevant to UAE readers as an international football and sports-business development.
