Viral Mbappé account sold to gambling platform Polymarket
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11 May 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes The famous X account ‘Has Mbappé scored a free-kick?’ has undergone a major change. The account that asked the same question about Kylian Mbappé every day for years is now owned by Polymarket.
The timing is striking. On 26 April, Mbappé finally scored his first ever free-kick in his professional career. It happened during the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. The goal came after 3,437 days without a direct free kick since his debut with AS Monaco.
The goal immediately went viral, despite the fact that Real Madrid lost the match. The X account, which for years posted only ‘No’, finally posted a ‘Yes’. That single word reached more than 16 million views.
Account now called Polymarket FC and promotes prediction markets
Shortly after Mbappé’s free kick, the account suddenly changed its name. It is now called ‘Polymarket FC’ and has been promoting prediction markets ever since. The bio now reads, ‘Powered by PolymarketSport.’
The posts are no longer about Mbappé’s free kicks, but about markets and bets run through Polymarket. It seems Polymarket has deliberately taken over the account to use its reach for promotion.
Polymarket focuses on predictions about sports, politics and current events. The opportunity to take over an already popular football account was probably too good for them to pass up.
Polymarket sees opportunity in existing fan base and online reach
This acquisition gives Polymarket direct access to a large group of engaged followers. Fans who watched the account daily are now exposed to Polymarket’s services.
What started as a joke about a footballer is now a marketing tool for a blockchain platform. It shows how quickly internet culture can turn into commercial opportunities.
What is Polymarket and how exactly does it work ?
Polymarket is a prediction marketing platform that runs on blockchain technology. Users can bet on the outcome of real events, such as sports matches or elections.
At each market, you buy ‘yes’ or ‘no’ shares on a simple question. For example, ‘Will team X win the final?’ The price of the shares reflects how much confidence people have in a particular outcome.
The platform gained attention for its transparency and speed. Especially during big events, such as elections or sports tournaments, Polymarket attracts many users. It is however blacklisted in Belgium.