Kylian Mbappé apologised to the Chinese people after controversial remarks about a meme comparing him to Mao Zedong.

The Real Madrid forward acknowledged making clumsy comments and said he regretted the reactions they provoked in China.

In a statement published on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, the France captain spoke in three languages: Chinese, French, and English.

He intends to put an end to a controversy that has taken on diplomatic and commercial dimensions, with China’s state television announcing the suspension of LaLiga broadcasts.

“During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself in which I was depicted. My comment was unfortunate, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and within the Chinese community around the world,” the player acknowledged in his message, signed in Paris.

“I apologise to everyone who was offended by my remarks. That was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry,” he added.