Polymarket Acquires Viral “Has Mbappé Scored a Free-Kick?” Account on X
The X account formerly known as “Has Mbappé scored a free-kick?”, which went viral for posting daily updates on Kylian Mbappé’s failure to score from direct free-kicks, has been rebranded as “Polymarket FC” and is now promoting prediction markets. The change suggests the account was acquired by blockchain-based betting platform Polymarket.
Mbappé finally scores, and the internet reacts
On April 26, during the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, Kylian Mbappé scored the first direct free-kick goal of his professional career, ending a streak that had lasted 3,437 days since his debut for AS Monaco. Although Real Madrid went on to lose the match, the goal quickly went viral across social media.
One X account in particular had built a cult following by asking one simple question every day: “Has Mbappé scored a free-kick?” The parody account poked fun at the star forward’s set-piece struggles, and after years of daily posts answering “No,” it finally posted “Yes.” The tweet quickly went viral, garnering over 16 million impressions.
Rebranded as “Polymarket FC”
In the days following the goal, the account underwent a sudden transformation. It was renamed Polymarket FC, and its bio now reads: “Powered by PolymarketSport.” Posts have shifted from Mbappé-specific content to promotional material for Polymarket’s prediction markets — including new markets focused on the French striker.
The account’s rebranding, name change to “Polymarket FC,” and shift to promotional content indicate that it was acquired by Polymarket to capitalize on its viral momentum.
Polymarket, which operates decentralized markets on sports, politics, and current events, appears to have seized an opportunity: turning a niche meme account into a high-visibility promotional asset. With a built-in user base of football fans and online followers, the rebranded account now gives Polymarket direct access to a large, already engaged audience.
What is Polymarket?
Polymarket is a decentralized prediction market platform that allows users to speculate on the outcomes of real-world events, including politics, sports, and current affairs. Built on blockchain technology, it enables trading in the form of “yes” or “no” shares based on specific questions — for example, “Will candidate X win the election?” or “Will team Y win the final?”
Prices in these markets reflect the crowd’s perceived probability of an event occurring. Known for its transparency and speed, Polymarket has gained attention as an alternative to traditional polling and forecasting tools, especially during high-profile political and sporting events.
Photo: Real Madrid C.F. (X platform)