Mbappé Comments on Jokes Comparing Him to a Notorious Dictator

Memes have transcended the boundaries of the internet. Following Kylian Mbappé's appointment as captain of the French national team, many online users began comparing the Real Madrid forward to a dictator, supporting their claims with collages depicting him in military uniform. And not just any dictator, but Mobutu – the tyrannical general who ruled Zaire from 1965 to 1997.

Asked to comment on this comparison in an interview with "L'Équipe" newspaper before the Ballon d'Or ceremony, the Real Madrid forward showed a hesitant stance on the matter. "On one hand, it's funny because you feel that for some people, it's a good-natured joke. On the other hand, however, there's a less amusing part, because we know the damage such figures have caused throughout history," Kylian Mbappé commented.

The joke extended beyond social media, reaching the eyes and ears of the "Les Bleus" during this summer's World Cup. In one of the daily videos published by the French Football Federation during the World Cup on the American continent, conversations between French internationals were captured as they prepared for a photo on the plane.

"Call Mobutu! Mobutu! Hey, Kylian, come here," shouts a voice that appears to belong to Ousmane Dembélé.

"With Ousmane, it's different," Kylian Mbappé defended him to "L'Équipe." "He saw that on social media! For him, it's just a joke."

"On one hand, I know it's done light-heartedly and things don't go that far, but sometimes it shows a lack of political and human awareness in people," concluded the Ballon d'Or candidate, whose ceremony will take place on October 26 in London.

Mobutu Sese Seko (1930–1997) was a military dictator and president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (which he renamed Zaire) for 32 years (1965–1997).

Key facts about his rule:

Rise to Power: He took office after a military coup in 1965.

Africanization: He banned Western names and clothing. He renamed the country Zaire, and himself Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa za Banga ("The all-powerful warrior who goes from triumph to triumph...").

Kleptocracy: His rule was a symbol of brutal corruption. While the population lived in extreme poverty, Mobutu amassed billions of dollars in Swiss accounts, bought luxurious properties in Europe, and built a palace in the jungle with a runway for his private Concorde.

Fall from Power: After the end of the Cold War, he lost Western support. He was overthrown in 1997 by Laurent Kabila's rebels and died of cancer the same year in exile in Morocco.