Mbappe Insists Dembele Friendship Is Unchanged Before Ballon d’Or Ceremony
Kylian Mbappe says his friendship with Ousmane Dembele remains intact as France’s two leading Ballon d’Or contenders prepare to reunite on international duty under new head coach Zinedine Zidane.
The Real Madrid forward and Paris Saint-Germain’s Dembele are expected to be among the principal names in contention when the Ballon d’Or is awarded in London on October 26. Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal and England captain Harry Kane are also in the race for football’s top individual prize.
Mbappe moved to dismiss suggestions that his recent comments on Dembele’s career had created a problem between the pair. Both men helped France reach the World Cup semi-finals, and Mbappe said he had already discussed the matter directly with his international teammate.
“There is no tension,” Mbappe said. “He is my friend and I am completely calm about the situation.”
Different routes to the top
The discussion arose after Mbappe contrasted his own rapid rise with Dembele’s less direct route to the elite level. Mbappe became one of the game’s biggest figures as a teenager, while Dembele’s career included injury setbacks before his resurgence in Paris.
Mbappe said Dembele had always possessed obvious ability, but that their expectations and experiences had been different. He described himself as having reached the highest level very early, while saying Dembele had overcome fitness issues to close the gap and reach his current standard.
Dembele’s potential Ballon d’Or success would be a significant moment given those contrasting careers, but Mbappe does not regard the competition as a source of conflict between two players who remain close away from the pitch.
Mbappe confident in his own case
Mbappe believes his scoring record across the past year places him strongly in the running. He said he had been the leading scorer in the major competitions and argued that individual output is the key factor in the voting.
The forward accepts that the field appears more open than in many previous years. He said it was enjoyable to be involved in such a closely watched contest and that it gave supporters something to follow, although he acknowledged he would be disappointed if he did not win.
The Ballon d’Or contest comes during a period of change for France. Zidane has replaced Didier Deschamps after the World Cup, ending Deschamps’ long spell in charge of Les Bleus.
For Mbappe, the appointment carries personal significance. He recalled that Zidane had collected him and taken him to Real Madrid’s training complex when he was 13 or 14 years old. Now, years later, the former Madrid midfielder and coach is in charge of the national side.
Mbappe described the development as feeling like a film, but said it was an extraordinary reality as France begin their next chapter with Zidane at the helm.
