India, Sept. 12 -- Kylian Mbappe has finally addressed the viral "dictator" memes that have followed him across social media, admitting that while he can see the humour behind them, comparisons with figures responsible for mass suffering can sometimes cross a line. The France and Real Madrid captain said he understands that much of the trend is intended as harmless fun, but believes some of the imagery also exposes a lack of awareness about the people being referenced.

The running joke has increasingly portrayed Mbappe as an authoritarian figure who supposedly controls everything around him, with edited images and AI-generated videos placing him in military uniforms or depicting him in the style of historical dictators. The meme has grow...