Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele responded pointedly to Kylian Mbappe after a Ligue 1 match on Sunday, pushing back against comments the Real Madrid striker had made comparing the two players ahead of this year's Ballon d'Or vote.
Dembele said he had always been in the background, working hard, and had never said a word throughout his career. He said he was never seen as the chosen one, but that he worked for it and was rewarded last year for a fantastic season with PSG. He added that there was no pressure on him this year.
The remarks followed comments Mbappe made days earlier comparing himself to Dembele. Mbappe said Dembele had always been seen as a talented player, while he himself had always been seen as the chosen one.
Both nominated for the Ballon d'Or
The exchange comes with both players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, the award given annually to the world's best footballer. Dembele won the prize in 2025 after a standout season with Paris Saint-Germain, while Mbappe, who plays his club football for Real Madrid, remains one of the most decorated forwards of his generation for both club and country.
French newspaper L'Equipe wrote that Dembele, the 2025 winner, had broken his usual reserve to respond to Mbappe and had effectively launched his campaign for the 2026 award. The paper said Dembele had built his case for re-election on the same principles as last year, built around modesty and the belief that the prize should go to whoever deserves it most, but that his firm response to Mbappe on Sunday showed he did not intend to accept everything without pushback.
French outlets reported that Dembele was surprised and unhappy with Mbappe's comments, and that some of those close to him reacted sharply.
'A form of betrayal'
Radio station RMC Sport's website carried comments from former France international Jerome Rothen, who said on his programme "Rothen Gets Fiery" that Dembele had taken the remarks very badly and was very angry with Mbappe. Rothen said Dembele saw it as a form of betrayal, and that the reaction was not limited to Dembele himself but extended to those close to him, including people who share the PSG dressing room with him.
Rothen also said Dembele was not the only France player irritated by Mbappe, claiming several squad members had taken issue with Mbappe's comments over time and that Mbappe had alienated a number of people within the national team. He said many France players were closer to Dembele than to Mbappe, and suggested the episode had shaken relations within the squad.
France careers by numbers
Mbappe often faced criticism from pundits and supporters of both the France national team and Real Madrid over his lack of defensive work, criticism Dembele himself pushed back against in June, saying people were being unfair and too harsh on Mbappe simply because of who he is.
Dembele has made 67 appearances for France, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists. Mbappe has played 106 matches for his country, scoring 66 goals with 44 assists.
