Kylian Mbappé’s second-place standing in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings has been replaced by the Chinese phrase “Cha Wu Zhi Ren”—meaning “the person does not exist”—following a sharp escalation of political controversy led by the prominent Chinese sports platform Dongqiudi.
The Digital Overhaul on Tuesday
Published on Tuesday, the digital overhaul repositions the rankings to place English player Harry Kane in first place and Spanish player Lamine Yamal in third. Beyond removing the Real Madrid forward’s name entirely, the platform applied a black-and-white visual treatment to his profile picture. In Chinese digital culture, grayscale imagery of this nature is typically reserved for deceased individuals.
Public Rebuke and Refusal to Translate
On Monday, Dongqiudi issued a statement describing remarks made by the Real Madrid player as “unacceptable.” The platform announced it would refuse to translate his comments, asserting that they “hurt the feelings of Chinese fans and the Chinese people.”
Mao Zedong Controversy and Sponsor Cancellations
The diplomatic friction erupted after Mbappé made controversial remarks that appeared to characterize Mao Zedong, the founder of Chinese communism, as a dictator. The comments sparked widespread public backlash, leading to the loss of commercial agreements between the player and three separate Chinese companies.
Apology and Ongoing Fallout
In response to the mounting commercial and public pressure, Mbappé subsequently issued an apology for the statements. As one of China’s premier digital football destinations, the platform’s refusal to recognize the player’s athletic standing underscores how quickly local digital ecosystems can sever ties with sports figures over political affronts.
While the player has attempted to mend relations through public apologies, the fallout continues to reverberate across digital platforms in the region, shifting the focus from his on-field achievements to the ongoing diplomatic fallout.
