Kylian Mbappe addressed the viral "dictator" memes comparing him to Mobutu, saying the joke sometimes reveals a lack of historical awareness. Kylian Mbappe has finally addressed the social media trend depicting him as an authoritarian figure, complete with military uniforms and the nickname “Mobutu,” a reference to the former Democratic Republic of Congo strongman who ruled for over two decades. “There is a part that is funny because we feel that, for some people, it’s good natured. There is also a part that is a little less funny because we know the damage that these kinds of people have caused in history. To be compared to people who murder people, or who have made millions and millions of people unhappy… I don’t think I’ve ever done that in my life,” Mbappe said in an interview with L’Equipe as part of the outlet’s Ballon d’Or coverage. The Real Madrid forward acknowledged the joke comes from a place of humor within the game, adding that the comparison sometimes reflects a broader lack of historical awareness rather than any real malice. The interview comes as Mbappe positions himself as one of the frontrunners for this year’s Ballon d’Or, having topped the scoring charts in LaLiga, the Champions League and the World Cup, putting him in direct competition with the likes of Rodri, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal for football’s most prestigious individual honor. Kylian Mbappé reacts to the "Dictator" memes 😭Find everything about him: https://t.co/6vZvjTg559#ballondor #mbappe #realmadrid pic.twitter.com/ErkO2LWyC2— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 11, 2026 How the meme started The joke traces back to Mbappe’s rise to become the undisputed leading man at PSG, with fans jokingly suggesting he had engineered the departures of both Lionel Messi and Neymar from the club in order to cement his own status as the central figure in Paris. From there, the comparison snowballed into military-themed edits and the “Mobutu” nickname that has since spread widely across social media. What started as a niche joke among supporters eventually found its way into the locker room, with teammates like Ousmane Dembele picking up on the bit rather than shutting it down, only fueling the trend further as it followed Mbappe from PSG to his new chapter at Real Madrid. Mbappe sees himself as a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or Beyond the meme talk, Mbappe used the same interview to make his case for the Ballon d’Or itself. “There isn’t a single player who had a better season than me,” he told L’Equipe, adding, “I believe I have chances“. The Real Madrid forward argued that his lack of collective silverware shouldn’t overshadow an individual campaign he considers unmatched. Mbappe went further, revealing he has considered himself the best player in the world for years and would not have traded places with anyone else who has won the award, including Messi or Ronaldo.
‘Image and unity’ of game affected, FFF president saysIt will consult sacked former Fifa official Kevin LamourThe French Football Federation’s president, Philippe Diallo, said Gianni Infantino had “seriously damaged the image and the unity of football” as he announced the end of France’s support for the Fifa president’s re-election.The FFF’s executive committee unanimously voted on Thursday to withdraw its backing, which had been formalised at the end of June. Diallo referred to “events during the World Cup” which had “flagrantly gone against the way we believe our sport should be run” and to Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan, which was revealed in July and scrapped after a widespread backlash. Continue reading...
Mohamed Salah's Trabzonspor are not looking to appoint Pep Guardiola as their new manager despite speculation. The post Mohamed Salah’s Trabzonspor Not Looking To Appoint Pep Guardiola appeared first on Inside Futbol | Latest Football News, Transfer Rumours & Articles.
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