Mbappe, Dembele Reportedly at Odds Over Ballon d’Or Remarks

Ousmane Dembele is reportedly unhappy with France teammate Kylian Mbappe after comments made by the Real Madrid forward about their respective paths to the top of football and the Ballon d’Or 2026 race.

With the Ballon d’Or voting deadline approaching, Mbappe has emerged as a contender for the award. However, according to the report, remarks in which Mbappe described himself as “the chosen one” have caused strain with Dembele, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner.

Mbappe contrasted his own rapid rise with Dembele’s career journey, while also acknowledging the Paris player had made up for setbacks. “Dembele has always been seen as a gifted player. As for me, I have always been considered the chosen one. I reached the top straight away and at an early age,” Mbappe said.

He added: “He has had a different career because of injuries, but he has managed to make up for that very well.”

Dembele’s response to the Ballon d’Or discussion

According to French publication L’Equipe, those remarks were a breaking point for Dembele, who was reported to have disagreed with several of Mbappe’s comments over the years while largely remaining quiet.

Dembele responded by stressing the role of work in his own career. “I have always been like this. I have always sat at the back of the class and worked hard. Throughout my career, I did not say a single word, I just worked,” he said.

He also directly addressed the description used by Mbappe. “I was never the chosen one, I worked hard and was rewarded with a wonderful year with Paris,” Dembele said. “This year we will see (the situation in the Ballon d’Or), I am following it without any pressure. We will see.”

The exchange matters because both players are prominent figures for France as well as candidates in a major individual award conversation. The report said Dembele’s comments caught Mbappe off guard, though Mbappe did not make a public response.

Reports of wider France squad tension

Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Jerome Rothen said the issue had been taken badly by Dembele. Speaking to RMC Sport, Rothen said: “Dembele took it very badly, that’s a certainty. He is very angry with Kylian Mbappe. It is a form of betrayal for him. The words are strong but that is exactly how he takes it.”

Rothen also said he had been told that other France players did not understand some of Mbappe’s public statements and were more aligned with Dembele. “I am told that there are a lot of players in the French team who do not understand, once again, all his statements, who are more in team Dembele than team Mbappe, yet it is the same team, but apparently there are two teams now,” he said.

The claims remain reports rather than public confirmation of a squad split. Still, the situation puts added focus on the relationship between Mbappe and Dembele while the Ballon d’Or 2026 race continues.

Dembele said he was following the award situation without pressure, while Mbappe’s earlier remarks have become the centre of the reported disagreement. There has been no public comment from Mbappe in response to Dembele’s latest statements, according to the report.