France Football certainly knew it, by obtaining the interview with Kylian Mbappé for the 2026 edition of the Ballon d’Or, the reactions would be numerous. But from there to trigger a new split as important between the pros and the anti-Mbappé… Because that is what is happening, as much among editorialists and consultants as among simple football lovers. The debate rages, between those who consider it completely normal for the French striker of Real Madrid to defend his record for the 2025-2026 season and his legitimacy as a contender for the Ballon d’Or, and those who criticize him for once again pulling the rug for himself during a season ended without the slightest collective trophy.
Too offensive communication?
“I don’t like Mbappé’s communication, he forces, he forces, and he annoys me. He annoys me and he annoys more and more people. Even around me people talk about it because it’s the hot topic”for example declared Benoît Trémoulinas, former left back, on the L’Equipe channel. He is not the only one to attack Mbappé publicly. One of his most loyal detractors is Jérôme Rothen, author of a new diatribe last night on RMCparticularly regarding the controversial sentence about Ousmane Dembélé.
“There is the phrase ‘the chosen one not the chosen one’, to take him for the small one, to say that there was no star at PSG when Kylian Mbappé was there, that he bows for the Ballon d’or when it is Ronaldo and Messi and for the others, he says to himself: ‘I could have had it’. In the former Ballon d’Or, there is Dembélé, Benzema, even Modric with whom he played…”said Rothen, before launching an accusation. “There are also the teammates of the French team (…) The feeling we had at the World Cup is revealed all the more today. There were a lot of players who had difficulty with Kylian Mbappé’s behavior and his statements, that’s the reality. He alienated a lot of people within the France group. The World Cup happened as it did, so it’s certain that when you finish top scorer and you have exemplary behavior, which was the case with Kylian at the World Cup, that somewhat attenuates all the criticism that there may be within the group. But these kinds of statements will do him a disservice. » Christophe Dugarry also responded curtly to his friend immediately…
A confrontation orchestrated by PSG?
Same story with Canal+where the journalist Bertrand Latour also positioned himself on Mbappé’s attitude. “The problem is that Mbappé is egocentric and only thinks about one thing, the Ballon d’Or. (…) The problem is when in order to get the Ballon d’Or, you are ready to say bad things about a partner, or a friend, it becomes problematic”he declared in particular. Clearly, it is the extract where Mbappé evokes his compatriot and friend Ousmane Dembélé, which creates the debate, even though viewing the interview leaves no room for doubt as to the affection that the number 10 of the France team has for him. And it is also Ousmane Dembélé’s response to the Ligue1+ microphone which allows the idea of tension between the two men to emerge.
On RMCDaniel Riolo rather pointed the finger at the attitude of Dembélé and PSG. “The response is organized. Before the match, it is organized that Dembélé will speak to Ligue 1 +. PSG communication went to Ligue 1 + and told them: “He’s coming to the microphone, but you have to ask him a question about the Ballon d’Or or he won’t come.”. Information on possible emerging tensions is refuted and confirmed depending on the sources, but one thing is certain, Mbappé’s media outing has everyone talking!
