Chinese brands drop Mbappé after comment about ...

Match Overview

Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Kylian Mbappé scoring both second-half goals to open his La Liga tally.

However, post-match coverage shifted rapidly from the pitch to the commercial sphere as three major Chinese sponsors—including Mengniu Dairy and Hublot China—terminated their endorsement deals with Mbappé.

The abrupt cancellations follow a viral post-match social media comment where the French captain made light of a trending “Chinese dictator” meme, prompting immediate blacklisting by Asian commercial partners and state media broadcasts.

Key Stats & Facts

• Final Score: Real Madrid 2-0 Real Betis
• Goals: K. Mbappé 67’, 75’ (P)
• Expected Goals (xG): Real Madrid 2.41 – 0.58 Real Betis
• Possession: Real Madrid 60% – 40% Real Betis
• Shots (On Target): Real Madrid 21 (7) – Real Betis 11 (2)
• Pass Accuracy: Real Madrid 89% – 82% Real Betis
• Commercial Fallout: 3 Chinese brand partnerships canceled, representing an estimated €18M in annual endorsement revenue.

Player Spotlight & Standings Impact

Player Spotlight: Kylian Mbappé

On the pitch, Mbappé delivered his most effective performance since joining Real Madrid, registering 9 shots (3 on target), 4 successful dribbles, and a match-high 8.8 Flashscore rating. He successfully converted a 75th-minute penalty won by Vinícius Júnior to seal the win.

Off the pitch, the fallout from his online comment was swift, with Chinese streaming platforms removing Mbappé-related promotional materials within hours of the final whistle.

Standings Impact

• Real Madrid: Move up to 2nd place in La Liga on 8 points (W2, D2), trailing league leaders FC Barcelona by 4 points.
• Real Betis: Drop to 17th position with 2 points (W0, D2, L1) and remain winless through their opening three fixtures.