Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid, and La Liga are facing significant challenges in repairing their reputations in China following controversial remarks made by the French football star about Mao Zedong. The comments, captured in a recently surfaced video, appeared to mock the former Chinese leader, provoking widespread outrage in a country where Mao remains a venerated figure as the founder of the People's Republic of China.
Mbappe reportedly expressed amusement over an internet meme that superimposed his face onto the image of a "Chinese dictator," a reference understood to be Mao. The remarks stirred controversy in China, where public mockery of Mao is considered taboo despite the historical controversies surrounding his leadership, including being linked by historians to millions of deaths.
The fallout was swift. Major Chinese brands severed their partnerships with Mbappe, and Spanish La Liga matches were removed from the programming of China’s state broadcaster CCTV. Chinese state media and social media users criticized Mbappe strongly, though many remained uncertain about the precise content of his comments.
Within two days, Mbappe, Real Madrid, and La Liga issued formal apologies aimed at mitigating the damage. China’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the apologies, stating that Beijing was taking them “seriously.” However, experts caution that the impact on their standing in the Chinese market will be enduring and complex.
Yan Qiang, a veteran sports commentator, described the incident as “very damaging” to the image of La Liga and Real Madrid in China. He noted that while an apology is better than none, it does not guarantee the controversy will cease, especially given the rapid escalation of social media-driven outrage. Yan underscored the difficulty in forecasting how the situation will develop, indicating pessimism about a swift recovery.
The episode echoes previous conflicts between foreign sports entities and China, such as the high-profile fallout involving the NBA in 2019 after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey publicly supported Hong Kong protesters. Subsequent to that event, NBA games were banned from Chinese television for over a year, and the league reportedly lost hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. La Liga, contrasting with the NBA, quickly distanced itself from Mbappe’s comments, emphasizing the differences in handling such crises.
The financial stakes are significant. According to a La Liga source, international broadcasting rights, heavily funded by China and the United States, are valued at approximately 748 million euros ($834 million) for the 2024-25 season. Real Madrid itself reportedly derives 10 to 15 percent of its merchandise revenue from China and maintains sponsorship agreements with prominent Chinese firms such as Hisense, Kaiyun Sports, and Linglong Tire.
Industry observers stress that demonstrating sincere and prompt remorse is crucial to determine the length of the broadcasting suspension and the potential for future engagement in China. Still, restoring Mbappe’s and, by extension, Real Madrid’s and La Liga’s image may be a lengthy process, given his prominent commercial presence and influence in the Chinese sports market.
Given the current climate, analysts suggest the path to regaining trust and profitability in China will depend largely on the future conduct and strategic decisions of the involved parties. In the short term, the prognosis remains uncertain, with many expecting continued repercussions.