Prominent French football (soccer) player Kylian Mbappé is all over social media right now thanks to a viral meme trend, but he's not exactly being painted in the best light.
The meme is known as "Dictator Mbappe," and it's all about portraying the soccer star as the world's most hated dictators.
But where does the nickname "Dictator Mbappé" come from, and why are the memes blowing up on social media? Here's what we know.
What Is The 'Dictator Mbappé' Meme?
People first started calling Kylian Mbappé a dictator as early as 2024 after he threatened to sue a French influencer for jokingly naming a kebab dish after him. The dish was called "Bakery bread, as round as Mbappe's head," a meanspirited but ultimately silly joke.
The idea of Mbappé being a dictator is rooted in the way he handles criticism and detractors by perceivably trying to "silence" them. Later that year, the first edit of Mbappé as a dictator, Chinese leader Mao Zedong, was posted to Reddit.
The nickname and meme went further viral in 2026 when Real Madrid parted ways with manager Xabi Alonso. Rumor had it that Mbappé got Alonso canned after refusing Real Madrid a guard of honor, although this was purportedly nothing more than a rumor.
Still, the nickname has stuck, and now it's back and bigger than ever on sites like TikTok.
How Is 'Dictator Mbappé' Used In Memes?
The Dictator Mbappé memes largely revolve around edits of Mbappé as the world's most well-known and disliked dictators, including everyone from Mao to Kim Jong Un and beyond.
These memes are often mixed with footage of Mbappé that arguably, or jokingly, shows him acting as a dictator. Some of the most popular versions of the meme show Mbappé interacting with players, coaches, etc., who have been sold, fired or no longer are involved with football, the implication being that they got in his way.
The meme is basically about proving a point, either ironically or genuinely, that Mbappé acts like a dictator in the way he handles himself and the world of football.
What Are Some More 'Dictator Mbappé' Memes?
For the full history of Dictator Mbappé, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
Read the original article on Know Your Meme.