“Dembele? But he was always seen as a talented player. I have always been seen as the chosen one. I was immediately on top, very early. He had a different journey, injuries, but he recovered well!» Kylian Mbappé’s little sentence about his friend Ousmane Dembélé is causing people to talk, and has come out in all sorts of ways. To the point of even reaching the ears of the main person concerned, who did not hesitate to respond at the Ligue1+ microphone on Sunday evening after Brest-PSG.
“No, I’ve always been like that. I was always at the back of the class working hard. In my entire career, I didn’t say a word, I worked. (…) I was never the chosen one, I worked and I was rewarded in a fantastic year with Paris Saint-Germain. This year we’ll see, I’m watching it without pressure. We’ll see “he said, in a statement which seemed to respond to the judgment expressed by his partner in the France team. We know some who could have reacted badly to Mbappé’s previous comments, in the same interview. “When Messi arrived at the ceremony and won, I said the best player is on the stage. No problem. When Cristiano won, I said the same thing… For others, I watched and, even with a Ballon d’Or, I never exchange with him. But it’s a beautiful thing because it nourishes a path, a storytelling. »
A danger in expressing yourself?
Could the campaign led by Kylian Mbappé in the quest for the Ballon d’Or have an impact on his relations with Ousmane Dembélé? The latter plays the “quiet” card, but cannot ignore his friend’s statements. Some editorialists are already worried about emerging tensions which could harm the France team. However, the two men managed to coexist without the slightest problem during the last World Cup, where it was assured that Dembélé’s 2025 Ballon d’Or status could lead to a form of rivalry.
However, by seeking to justify his legitimacy in winning the Ballon d’Or and defending the success of his career, Kylian Mbappé takes the risk of one sentence too many, which could sour a relationship. Until now, in the French team, his performances and his goals have prevented any resentment towards him, and this will have to continue under the orders of Zinedine Zidane, a man used to managing huge egos!
