Real Madrid’s Mbappe: AI dictator memes show lack of political awareness

Kylian Mbappé said he had mixed feelings about a wave of AI-generated images that used his likeness during the 2026 World Cup. The altered pictures portrayed him in authoritarian garb, seated on thrones or placed beside controversial historical leaders, and they spread widely on social media. Speaking to France Football, Mbappé accepted that some of the images were intended as light-hearted jokes and that parts of the trend could be seen as humorous. At the same time, he said he was uncomfortable with comparisons to figures associated with large-scale violence and suffering, noting that such references carry real historical weight and harm. Mbappé added that although much of the content is meant in jest, it can expose a shortfall in political and human awareness among those sharing it. He distinguished that treatment from a nickname given to him by teammate Ousmane Dembélé — “Mobut,” a reference drawn from social media — which Mbappé described as a different, joking matter. The comments came as Mbappé’s international profile is particularly prominent: his 22 World Cup goals put him ahead of Lionel Messi on the tournament’s all-time scoring list, a status that helps explain the wide circulation and scrutiny of images that use his likeness.