A third Frenchman is said to have calmed the dispute between Mbappé and Dembélé

Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé have exchanged their remarks after their respective statements about the Ballon d’Or. The captain of the Bleus is said to have taken the initiative to call his teammate, marking a first step towards reconciliation between the two forwards, as part of the France national team’s preparation and away from the cameras at Clairefontaine.

The Paris Saint‑Germain player, captain of the Bleus, is said to have called Ousmane Dembélé directly. No details have been released about the content of the call.

Mbappé said he was seen very early on as “the chosen one”, while Dembélé reminded that his career had been hampered by injuries. Their remarks were perceived as mutual jabs.

A few days later, the PSG forward retorted: “I was never the chosen one, I’ve worked enormously.” This response aimed to nuance the public’s perception.

Zinédine Zidane names Ousmane Dembélé vice‑captain of the Bleus

Zinédine Zidane preferred to let the players handle the dispute and refused to “blow the whistle on the end of recess”. In doing so, he avoided intervening directly.

Marcus Thuram would have facilitated the exchanges

According to Le Parisien, Marcus Thuram shares a WhatsApp group with the two forwards and is said to have spoken with them to ease the tension. The conditional used prevents knowing the exact words employed.

Mbappé pitches individual brilliance as key to Ballon d'Or hopes

Mbappé confirmed that he spoke with Dembélé and that no conflict remains, while emphasizing that Thuram’s role remains low‑key and unofficial. The atmosphere within the Bleus therefore appears to have eased.