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The brewing rivalry between Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé as both players chase the 2026 Ballon d'Or may ultimately amount to little. Yet it's a story gaining traction as the bond between two long-standing friends appears to be fraying at the edges.
New France head coach Zinedine Zidane will have both players together under one roof later this month and will be eager to defuse the situation in an unexpected early challenge since finally securing his dream role. Already, though, reports are emerging of a fractured French dressing room.
Mbappé and Dembélé are among the most prominent figures in world football today. The former has netted 93 goals in just over two seasons at Real Madrid and claimed the World Cup's all-time top scorer record this summer. Yet he has lifted no silverware with Los Blancos and came up short on the international stage with France. The same can be said of Dembélé, the reigning 2025 Ballon d'Or holder who, while not quite as electrifying as he was in 2024–25, is now a back-to-back Champions League champion.
It's far from a straight two-way contest, however. Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, and Rodri all pose serious threats. Following the recent shortlist announcements, pressure mounted on the frontrunners to speak out publicly, and it's those comments that appear to have sparked tension between the French contenders.
Mbappe vs. Dembele: Who Said What?
To begin with, both Mbappé and Dembélé are convinced they deserve the Ballon d'Or this year.
In an interview published by France Football, the magazine behind the prestigious award, Mbappé stated: "There was nobody better than me last season."
In his own interview published the very next day—though recorded prior to Mbappé's airing—Dembélé countered: "I was superior in the key moments, quite clearly. And that counts. It's the main criterion, isn't it?"
But the roots of this apparent dispute between two international teammates and former club colleagues who met and bonded as teenagers lie in something else Mbappé said.
Mbappé characterized Dembélé's path to the summit as longer and more winding than his own. "He was always regarded as a talented player," Mbappé said. "I, on the other hand, was always seen as the chosen one. I reached the top immediately, very fast. Ousmane had a different journey, shaped by injuries, but he has managed to overcome that!"
'Took It Very Badly'—Frictions Form in France Roster
Former France winger Jérôme Rothen, now a media figure hosting his own program on RMC Sports—Rothen Is Fired Up—claims Dembélé "took it very badly" and is even "furious" with Mbappé.
"For him, it feels like a betrayal. Those are strong words, but that's precisely how he sees it ... and it's not just him. It's everyone in Ousmane's circle, the people alongside him in the PSG dressing room. His French national team colleagues are also unhappy.
"I'm told that numerous players in the French national team, once again, don't understand his comments, that they are more aligned with Dembélé than with Mbappé, and yet it's the same squad, but apparently there are now two camps."
Rothen predicted "things will get heated" when Mbappé and Dembélé share the same space at France's upcoming international camp. He described the latter as more "conciliatory" than Mbappé, suggesting it has typically been his role to smooth things over in camp. But perhaps the Real Madrid star has finally provoked the wrong person, as Rothen pointed to "issues with Mbappé's conduct and comments" in the past.
"He has pushed many people away within the French national team. The World Cup played out as it did, so it's true that when you finish as top scorer and carry yourself impeccably, as Kylian did at the World Cup, it softens much of the internal criticism. But these kinds of remarks will come back to bite him."
Dembele Breaks Pattern by Responding
Dembélé is not typically someone who engages publicly. Yet he opted to give an unscheduled interview to Ligue 1+ following PSG's Sunday victory over Brest and delivered what appeared to be pointed remarks without directly addressing Mbappé's words.
"I've always been at the back of the class putting in the work," he said. "Throughout my whole career I haven't said a thing; I've worked incredibly hard. I was never considered the chosen one, but I worked hard and last year I was rewarded with an outstanding season at PSG. Now, this year, we'll see: no pressure, just staying relaxed."
According to L'Équipe, Mbappé was caught off guard by the comments and intends not to respond further.
Some may take issue with Dembélé's portrayal of himself as someone who always toiled from the shadows. There was a period when he was France's brightest prospect, bursting onto the scene with Rennes before Mbappé had truly arrived, and securing moves to Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona in back-to-back summers. The latter, in 2017, briefly made him the second most expensive player in history until Mbappé surpassed that figure the following year.
At Barcelona, Dembélé faced criticism over his professionalism, and for a time it seemed he might become a cautionary tale of wasted potential—until things finally fell into place for him just a couple of years ago, around the time Mbappé departed PSG.
Christophe Dugarry, former France international, remarked on Rothen's show that Dembélé—given his turbulent road to this point—is the "anti-star" of the narrative.
"I remember when Dembélé was at Barcelona, he couldn't drag himself out of bed for training because he was on PlayStation," he said. "Come on! Dembélé is the anti-star, and he shines because of it. He has the mindset of the anti-star. These are two contrasting visions of football. Two different styles clashing. Two entirely different personalities."
A personal feud may carry little weight in club football, but France's ambitions at Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup hinge on Mbappé and Dembélé being united rather than at loggerheads. There is a growing expectation that the two will need to speak face to face during France duty next week to clear the air before things potentially spiral further.
L'Équipe suggests things "shouldn't be overinterpreted at this stage" but acknowledges it is still "reasonable to think that a conversation between the two will be necessary."