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Rabat – Rayan Cherki has found himself at the center of growing controversy after posting an edited image of himself as Napoleon Bonaparte ahead of France’s World Cup quarterfinal clash against Morocco.
The Manchester City player shared the image on his Instagram story shortly after France secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16.
Earlier in the evening, Cherki had also posted photos celebrating with France head coach Didier Deschamps on the pitch following qualification, with the two appearing relaxed and smiling after a tense match in Philadelphia.
However, the mood online shifted quickly once the “Napoleon” image appeared.
The edited photo showed Cherki’s face replacing Napoleon’s in one of the most famous imperial portraits associated with the French emperor. The player accompanied the image with laughing emojis, but many online users interpreted the post very differently.
Social media reactions exploded within hours, with many fans viewing the imagery as provocative.
Several users criticized the symbolism associated with Napoleon and French imperial history, especially given the long and painful legacy of French colonialism in North Africa.
Others questioned the timing of the post, noting that it coincided with commemorations linked to Algeria’s independence from French rule.
One widely circulated post read: “Does Rayan Cherki know the crimes Napoleon committed against Algerians and Arabs before celebrating this way?”
The backlash intensified further because the France-Morocco quarterfinal already carries emotional and historical dimensions beyond football. The future has generated enormous attention across the Arab world, France, and North Africa due to the deep cultural and diaspora connections between the two countries.
While some fans defended Cherki and argued that the post was intended as humor or confidence ahead of the match, others accused the French international of using imagery that many considered insensitive and unnecessarily inflammatory.
Cherki has not publicly addressed the controversy or removed the post as reactions continue to spread across social media platforms.
