Kylian Mbappé’s major loss after the controversy in China

Nearly €7 million a year goes up in smoke

Europe Today at 05:05

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Kylian Mbappé’s major loss after the controversy in China

Kylian Mbappé has seen two Chinese commercial partnerships come to an end after the controversy sparked on social media. According to the French press, the contracts represented nearly €7 million in annual revenue for the Real Madrid forward.

The controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappé in China has financial consequences. The brands Bushuila, linked to the Dongpeng group, and Mengniu have ended their collaboration with the France international. According to reports in the press, the two partnerships brought him around €7 million a year.

The contracts were due to expire in February and March 2027. Their early termination therefore deprives the player of two major commercial partnerships in the Chinese market. According to estimates reported by several media outlets, their combined value was close to 50 million yuan, or around €6.7 million per year.

A controversy with commercial consequences

The decision comes after a video linked to a meme associating Mbappé with Mao Zedong, a historic figure in China, was circulated. The clip prompted numerous reactions on Chinese social media before some of the player’s commercial partners distanced themselves.

The groups concerned do not all operate in the same sectors. Dongpeng is notably active in the energy drinks market, while Mengniu is one of China’s major dairy companies. Their split from Mbappé therefore affects two distinct sectors.

The loss of these contracts represents potential lost income for the Frenchman. Some media outlets believe the agreements could have been renewed when they expired had the controversy not erupted. That possibility nevertheless remains hypothetical: no public confirmation establishes that the two brands planned to extend their collaboration.

🚨🚨 LA POLÉMIQUE EN CHINE 🇨🇳 COÛTE TRÈS CHER À KYLIAN MBAPPÉ 🇫🇷 ! 😳💰👇

Les contrats publicitaires avec les marques chinoises Bushuila (Dongpeng) et Mengniu, qui ont ROMPU leur collaboration avec le Français, représentaient près de 7 MILLIONS D’EUROS PAR AN ! ❌

Ces contrats… pic.twitter.com/fyERGQ8TH5
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) October 28, 2026

The exact amount of the financial loss also remains unknown. The approximately €7 million corresponds to the estimated annual value of the partnerships, not to officially quantified compensation or net losses.

This affair therefore goes beyond the controversy on social media; it also affects his commercial relationships in China, a market where the image of international personalities can carry significant weight in advertisers’ decisions.

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