New Delhi, Oct. 27 -- Kylian Mbappe has issued a formal apology after a casual comment about an online meme triggered a sharp commercial and public backlash in China. Several major brands ended their partnerships with the Real Madrid and France captain, while platforms limited his visibility and boycott calls spread online.

The controversy stems from a short interview clip that circulated ahead of Mbappe's appearance on the French online talk show 'The Bridge'. When asked about his favourite meme of himself, the 27-year-old replied that it was "a video someone made of a guy... I think he was a Chinese dictator." The video then showed an edited image of Mbappe's face placed on the blue-suited body of a figure widely recognised as Mao Zedo...