Kylian Mbappe Criticizes AI Dictator Memes as Lacking Political Awareness During World Cup

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe admitted he had mixed feelings about the viral AI-generated memes depicting him as a dictator during the World Cup. Speaking to France Football magazine, the France forward—who secured the Golden Boot at World Cup 2026—addressed images that placed him in military attire, on a throne, and alongside historical figures like Soviet leader Josef Stalin.

While recognizing the light-hearted intent behind some of the posts, Kylian Mbappe expressed concern over comparisons to figures linked to historical tragedies. "There's a part of it that's funny because you can tell that, for some people, it's good-natured," he stated. However, he added, "There's also a part that's a little less funny because we know the damage that people like that have caused throughout history."

The striker, whose 22 all-time World Cup goals surpassed the record held by Lionel Messi, remarked that such content sometimes highlights a broader "lack of political and human awareness" online. When asked about his France teammate Ousmane Dembele calling him "Mobut"—a nod to former autocratic leader Mobutu Sese Seko of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—Kylian Mbappe clarified that it was simply an inside joke stemming from social media.