A young child stole the spotlight from Kylian Mbappé inside the France national team camp, cracking a joke that revived a nickname which has caused plenty of controversy of late.
Mbappé returned home to join up with the national team during the international break. He trained with Les Bleus on Monday amid an atmosphere of real anticipation.
As the Real Madrid striker posed for a souvenir photo with one young fan, another child in the crowd called out to him more than once: "The dictator has arrived."
Shared across several French networks, the friendly dig drew an immediate smile from the player. He took it in brilliant spirit, showing no irritation whatsoever and sharing a laugh with the crowd.
The remark harks back to the "dictator" nickname recently pinned on Mbappé, one that sparked diplomatic and media tension with China. Now it has resurfaced, this time from the mouth of an innocent child and in an entirely light-hearted setting.
Such a spontaneous moment captures the relaxed mood within the France camp as they prepare for their next two UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Turkey.