Kylian Mbappé on an advertisement in Shanghai.
The Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappé on an advertisement in Shanghai. Photograph: AP
The Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappé on an advertisement in Shanghai. Photograph: AP
Kylian Mbappé’s China crisis shows how sensitive Mao’s legacy remains

Real Madrid forward was dropped by brands for comments Chinese media generally steered clear of outlining

It’s been a bad start to the week for the Kylian Mbappé. The France forward missed out on joining the elite roster of Ballon d’Or winners and instead became the latest high-profile addition to a far less illustrious list – that of foreign brands and individuals charged with “hurting the feelings of the Chinese people”.