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| Photo credit — Dembélé & Mbappé |
Ousmane Dembélé has addressed recent media and online discussion surrounding comments made by Kylian Mbappé about the Ballon d’Or, stating that he does not engage with the surrounding speculation.
Speaking ahead of France’s UEFA Nations League match against Italy, the Paris Saint-Germain forward said the online narrative does not reflect the actual relationship between the two players. Dembélé noted that individual awards generate external noise but do not affect their interactions within the national team.
The comments in question came from Mbappé’s interview with France Football. When asked about the possibility that few observers would have predicted a decade earlier that Dembélé could contend for the Ballon d’Or ahead of him, Mbappé replied that he has “always been seen as the chosen one,” while adding that Dembélé had “caught up really well.” The exchange was widely circulated and interpreted by some as implying a competitive undercurrent.
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Dembélé confirmed he raised the subject directly with Mbappé. He described the conversation as incidental, arising simply because the two sit next to each other at squad meals. Both players have publicly minimized any suggestion of friction. Mbappé had earlier stated that he did not believe a problem existed.
In the broader context of elite football, individual awards such as the Ballon d’Or often amplify media focus on personal comparisons, even when players operate within the same national team. Public remarks are frequently scrutinized for subtext, particularly when two high-profile teammates are both in contention. Yet the practical reality inside a squad tends to prioritize collective preparation over external narratives.
Dembélé’s decision to address the topic calmly, while emphasizing that he pays little attention to social-media discussion, aligns with a common approach among experienced internationals: acknowledge the coverage without elevating it.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for 26 October. Dembélé enters the period as a strong contender following consistent performances, while Mbappé continues to pursue the award that has so far eluded him despite sustained individual output.
With Mbappé currently unavailable due to a knee injury, Dembélé was named captain for the fixture at the Stade de France. He described the responsibility as an honour and spoke constructively about Mbappé’s contribution to the national side, underlining the value of the squad’s leading scorer even in his absence.
Overall, the episode illustrates how quickly isolated interview remarks can generate narratives of rivalry, while the players themselves appear to treat the matter as peripheral to team duties.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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