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Mao Zedong founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and led the country through a turbulent period that spanned much of the 1960s and 1970s.
His rapid industrialisation campaign, known as the Great Leap Forward, caused a catastrophic famine that claimed tens of millions of lives. This was followed by the Cultural Revolution, a violent campaign that targeted perceived enemies of the Communist Party, including intellectuals, landowners, artists and political rivals.
After Mao’s death in 1976, China entered a new era of reform and opening up to the global economy. Although the nation has moved away from his policies, the Communist Party continues to portray Mao as a revered national figure whose legacy is considered beyond reproach.
Consequently, jokes or memes referencing Mao are viewed not only as an affront to the Party but also as a challenge to the carefully curated historical narrative of the country.
The exact origins of the meme that likens Mbappé to Mao are unclear, but his nickname “the dictator” has made the French striker a frequent subject of online satire.
In 2024, Mbappé filed a lawsuit against a French influencer and a kebab shop owner for using his name in the description of a sandwich, which sparked further ridicule surrounding the nickname.
During the 2026 World Cup, teammate Ousmane Dembélé added to the controversy by calling Mbappé “Mobut,” a reference to Mobutu Sese Seko, the long‑time dictator of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a September interview with France Football, Mbappé said that while many of the memes are intended as light‑hearted, they sometimes reveal a lack of political and human awareness among those who create them.
“There’s a side that’s a bit less funny, because we know the damage people like that have caused throughout history,” he remarked.
“Being compared to individuals who have murdered others or caused immense suffering… I don’t think I’ve done that in my life,” he added.
Additional reporting by Fan Wang and Osmond Chia
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