Mbappe the dictator? Mourinho clarifies Real Madrid's 'problem'

Updated: 11 Sept 2026 16:58 BST |
4 min read

Make us your Google favourite

Jose Mourinho has responded to Kylian Mbappe’s critics amid suggestions that the French “dictator” is holding Real Madrid back.

Article continues under the video

Ever since he arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2024, the 27-year-old has faced relentless criticism. Despite scoring an eye-watering 91 goals in 108 appearances for Real Madrid, Mbappe more often than not finds himself in the firing line.

Mbappe was one of a select few Real Madrid players who came away from last season with credit in the bank – he bagged 42 goals in 44 games after all – yet he found himself targeted by a fan petition calling for him to be sold that garnered millions of signatures.

Mbappe’s standing at Real Madrid is paradoxical. He is arguably the club’s best player, yet he is among the first to be blamed when things go awry. His lack of defensive work and perceived ego problem make him an easy target.

Because of his stature in the game and importance, Mbappe has also been accused of secretly running the show at the clubs he plays for, dating back to his time at PSG. In Paris, it was whispered that he was the club’s “sporting director” and that players were signed to placate him.

Mbappe on the dictator memes

Since his move to Real Madrid, Mbappe has become the subject of online memes depicting him as a “dictator.” This running gag has even made its way into the France camp, where Ousmane Dembele jokingly calls him “Mobutu” in reference to the former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Speaking to France Football, Mbappe has now broken his silence on the dictator meme. Although he says he sees the funny side of it, part of him is also saddened that he is being compared to some of the most notorious figures in history.

“Part of it is funny because you get the sense that, for some people, it’s all in good fun,” Mbappe said. “There’s also a less funny part because we know the damage these kinds of people have caused throughout history.

“To be compared to people who murder others, or who have made millions and millions of people miserable – I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like that in my life! So there’s a mix of things.

“On the one hand, I know it’s done in a lighthearted way and doesn’t go that far, but it sometimes shows a lack of political and human awareness in people. Ousmane is different. He found it on social media! He’s just having a laugh.”

Mourinho shields Mbappe

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has jumped to the defence of his star striker in the face of the unrelenting criticism Mbappe is subjected to. “A player with over 40 goals is never a problem for the team,” the Real Madrid manager insists.

“When there is empathy, friendship, commitment, and respect – imagine that – then there are things I see and value greatly as a coach. Some people don’t understand, and that’s normal. Some people don’t know football in depth. Others understand football in depth but find it convenient not to talk about good things.”

When questioned about Vinicius Jr, who is similarly under constant scrutiny, Mourinho shared a Portuguese proverb that he says also applies to Mbappe. “In Portugal, there is a proverb that I don’t know if it exists in Spain: you only throw stones at trees that bear fruit,” he explained.

“What has Vini Jr done here in recent years? How many Champions Leagues has he won, and how many goals has he scored? What has he done here in the last five or six years? He is a tree that bears a lot of fruit, and people throw stones because they want the fruit.”

Mbappe, Mourinho insists, “is a tree with plenty of fruit.”