Story perspectives

China Brands Cut Mbappé Ties After Controversial Video

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 10:25 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Companies Drop Mbappé

Dongpeng Beverage ended its endorsement of French footballer Kylian Mbappé after a video referenced a Chinese dictator.
Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, terminated its partnership with Mbappé, saying it hurt Chinese national sentiment.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian warned that remarks hurting Chinese people will meet opposition from all sectors.
CCTV suspended La Liga broadcasts and removed Mbappé content from its news apps following the controversy.

Summary

Kane Wins Ballon

Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or by a razor-thin points gap over Kylian Mbappé.
France Football editor Vincent Garcia said the margin was smaller than the 2024 contest between Rodri and Vinícius Júnior.
Former Ballon d’Or chief Pascal Ferre called Mbappé’s repeated self-praise a “serious mistake” that may have cost votes.
The official website mistakenly listed Kane, Lamine Yamal and Mbappé as winners, causing a 30-minute ceremony delay.

History

Historical Context

In October 2019, Daryl Morey’s tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters sparked a massive Chinese backlash, prompting state media to halt NBA broadcasts. Tencent, the NBA’s Chinese partner, suspended a $1 billion media deal, and CCTV removed live games, affecting roughly 200 million viewers. Today, Dongpeng Beverage and Mengniu similarly withdrew Kylian Mbappé endorsements, while CCTV again suspended La Liga coverage, echoing the 2019 media blackout. These patterns show how political sensitivities can instantly jeopardize multinational sports sponsorships, forcing brands to recalibrate global marketing strategies.

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Companies Drop Mbappé

Dongpeng Beverage ended its endorsement of French footballer Kylian Mbappé after a video referenced a Chinese dictator.
Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, terminated its partnership with Mbappé, saying it hurt Chinese national sentiment.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian warned that remarks hurting Chinese people will meet opposition from all sectors.
CCTV suspended La Liga broadcasts and removed Mbappé content from its news apps following the controversy.

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