Mbappé Addresses Dembélé Rift Amid Ballon d'Or Buzz

Kylian Mbappé has moved to shut down talk of a rift with Ousmane Dembélé after a brief war of words around the Ballon d'Or spilled into the headlines in France.

The noise started on 11 September, when Mbappé sat down with France Football and was asked about his chances of winning the award, which will be handed out on 26 October in London. While comparing his journey with that of his France teammate, the Real Madrid forward drew a sharp contrast.

“He has always been considered a talented player. I have always been seen as the chosen one. I was at the top from the start. He had a different path, injuries, but he recovered well,” Mbappé said of his former PSG colleague.

The “chosen one” line stuck. It followed Dembélé into his next media appearance.

Two days later, the winger answered on Ligue 1+. He never named Mbappé, but he knew exactly which phrase to pick up.

“Throughout my entire career, I haven't said a single word, I have worked very hard. As I said, I have never been the chosen one, but I have worked hard, and last year I was rewarded with a fantastic season at PSG. And this year, we'll see, no pressure, calm,” said the latest Ballon d'Or winner.

With both players now back together on international duty, the reunion with France only cranked up the intrigue. Was there tension inside Didier Deschamps’ attack? Was the Ballon d'Or race bleeding into the national team?

Mbappé insists it is all noise.

Speaking to L’Équipe at an event for his new sponsor, the France captain underlined that any issue had already been handled privately.

“I’ve already talked it over with him and no, there are no tensions. He is a friend. I really think there is no problem at all in that regard, I’m very calm,” said the number 10.

He also pointed a finger at the usual storm that swirls around the national side whenever the squad comes together.

“During the Nations League period and with the French national team, you always have to look for a topic of debate, and I think this one is very well chosen,” he concluded.

The Ballon d'Or will be settled in London. The real question now is whether the debate around it stays outside the France dressing room.