Mbappé and Dembélé clash over Ballon d'Or comments

Tensions have risen between French football stars Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé following comments made by Mbappé regarding their respective career paths and the upcoming Ballon d'Or. In interviews with France Football and L’Équipe, Mbappé described himself as having always been viewed as ‘the chosen one,’ while noting that Dembélé has always been regarded as a talented player who had to overcome various injuries.

Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, responded by emphasizing his work ethic, stating, “I was never the chosen one, but I worked incredibly hard.” He noted that his success came from being ‘at the back of the class’ and working hard throughout his career.

Former French international Jérôme Rothen reported that these remarks have caused significant friction, with Dembélé and his circle viewing the comments as a form of ‘betrayal.’ Rothen suggested that the comments have alienated Mbappé from several teammates within the French national team and the Paris Saint-Germain dressing room, potentially creating two distinct camps within the squad.