Kylian Mbappe has expressed mixed feelings about fan-generated memes that depict him as a dictator, suggesting the trend reveals a "lack of awareness" among some individuals.
Images of the Real Madrid and France forward in military attire circulated widely, including among fans at the FIFA World Cup. The origins of the meme are unconfirmed, with speculation suggesting it arose from reports of Mbappe's significant influence at Paris Saint-Germain or a past legal dispute with a kebab shop owner.
In an interview with France Football leading up to the Ballon d'Or ceremony, where he is a contender, Mbappe acknowledged that while the memes are often intended "in good fun," they also highlight a disconnect with historical realities.
"Part of it is funny because you can tell that for some people it’s all in good fun," Mbappe stated. "Part of it is a little less funny because we know the damage people like that have caused throughout history."
He elaborated on the comparison, noting the vast suffering inflicted by historical dictators. "So being compared to people who murder people, who have made millions and millions of people miserable. I don’t think I’ve ever done that in my life," he said. "So there’s a mix of things where you think to yourself: 'I know it’s meant in a light-hearted way'. It doesn’t go that far but it sometimes showcases that there’s a lack of awareness, sometimes political, sometimes human among people."
Mbaappe also discussed a nickname, "Mobutu," given to him by former PSG and France teammate Ousmane Dembele. This nickname refers to Mobutu Sese Seko, the former dictator of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mbappe indicated that this particular instance was purely for amusement, stating, "Ousmane, it’s something else, he took it from social media, so no, with him it’s just for fun."