Several Chinese brands have dropped French footballer Kylian Mbappé as backlash grew online over alleged comments by him referring to the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

Mbappé reportedly told French talk show The Bridge a meme "that makes me laugh the most...the one where there's a video of a guy, I think it's a Chinese dictator". As he speaks, a meme appears with his face superimposed on an image resembling Mao.

"I use it with my friends all the time," the Real Madrid forward adds, in unverified clips that have been circulating online.

Mbappé does not identify Mao by name and the original video is no longer on the show's YouTube channel, but screengrabs have spread on Chinese social media.

Even China's foreign ministry has weighed in, with spokesperson Lin Jian saying: "We have noted the relevant reports.…