Dispute over Ballon d’Or statements fuels feud between Dembele and Mbappé

The dispute over Kylian Mbappé's Ballon d’Or‑statements on October 26 has caused great unrest in recent days, because the reigning titleholder Ousmane Dembele allegedly reacted “furiously angry” to the PSG striker. Former PSG professional Jérôme Rothen said this on RMC Sport.

Rothen's assessment of the conflict

“He is furiously angry at Mbappé. For him it is a form of fraud. That is a harsh word, but that is exactly how he sees it,” said Rothen. He added that not only Dembele, but “everyone around Ousmane, the people in the PSG dressing room” are upset. The dispute therefore does not arise solely from sporting competition, but from personal feelings that have been simmering since the awarding of the Ballon d’Or to Mbappé.

Rothen emphasized that the discomfort is also felt among other French national team players. Moreover, it leads to tensions that go beyond the pitch and involve many national players. “The feeling we had at the World Cup is confirmed by this. There were many players who had an issue with Mbappé's behaviour and his statements,” he explained. He suspected that two camps are now forming and the walls during the next international break would shake a little.

Kylian Mbappé had explained in interviews with France Football and L’Equipe that he is the clear favourite for the coveted trophy and described himself as “the Chosen One”. Dembele, who has already been regarded as a titleholder since his fantastic season at Paris Saint‑Germain, was described by Mbappé as a “talented player”. These formulations sparked the current form debate within the French national team.

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Dembele's official response and its planning

After PSG's 1:0 victory over Brest, Dembele spoke with Ligue 1+. “I’ve always been like this: behind in the class, worked hard,” he said. “Since the start of my career I haven’t lost a word about it. I was never the Chosen One. I’ve worked incredibly hard. Last year I was rewarded after a fantastic season with Paris Saint‑Germain. This year we will see, completely relaxed and without pressure.” The PSG professional emphasized that his path is not influenced by Mbappé's statements.

According to Daniel Riolo of RMC Sport, Dembele's interview was not spontaneous. “The answer was organised. Even before the match it was decided that Dembele would speak with Ligue 1+ and address the Ballon d’Or topic,” Riolo explained. He added that PSG's communications department gave journalists the hint: “It will come when you ask the question.”

Noise around the Ballon d'Or threatens Mbappé and Yamal's chances

Rothen warns that the tensions could further divide the French national team. Many players now clearly stand on Dembele's side, while others support Mbappé. “The two camps will reveal themselves at the next gathering of the national team,” he said. The situation could significantly affect preparation for upcoming international matches.