Mbappé unhappy with AI memes portraying him as dictator
By AP, September 11, 2026Kylian Mbappé didn’t fully enjoy the flurry of AI memes depicting him as a dictator on social media during the World Cup.
The France star was portrayed in military outfits, sitting on a throne, or posing next to Soviet leader Josef Stalin and other controversial leaders.
Asked by France Football magazine how he felt about the memes, Mbappé acknowledged the humour but said he didn’t like being compared to figures associated with tragedies.
“There’s a part of it that’s funny because you can tell that, for some people, it’s good-natured,” he said. “There’s also a part that’s a little less funny because we know the damage that people like that have caused throughout history. Being compared to people who murder others, or who have made millions and millions of people miserable. … I don’t think I’ve done that in my life. So there’s a mixture of things.”
The France striker said he understood that most of the memes were created as jokes and were not necessarily meant to portray him seriously.
However, he argued that some of the comparisons went beyond simple football humour, particularly because of the historical figures he was being linked to.
“I know it’s done in a light-hearted way and that it doesn’t go that far, but sometimes it shows a lack of political and human awareness among people,” Mbappé said.
The memes emerged as Mbappé became one of the biggest talking points surrounding the World Cup, with his performances and growing influence on the France team attracting significant attention online.
Mbappé was also reminded that his France teammate Ousmane Dembélé had given him the nickname “Mobut”, a reference to former autocratic leader Mobutu Sese Seko.
The Real Madrid forward appeared to distinguish Dembélé’s nickname from the wider AI memes circulating online, saying the joke was different because of the relationship between the two players.
“With Ousmane, it’s something is different,” Mbappé said. “He picked it up from social media. With him, it’s just a joke.”
The conversation also comes as Mbappé continues to build his legacy on the international stage.
The France captain overtook Lionel Messi for the most career World Cup goals, reaching 22 goals in the tournament.
While Mbappé has embraced the attention that comes with his status as one of football’s biggest stars, his comments show that he is less comfortable when online jokes link him to historical figures associated with violence and suffering.