Critics have gone too far on Mbappe — Dembele
By Adegboyega Adeleye
France winger Ousmane Dembele has thrown his support behind national team captain Kylian Mbappe ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the criticism aimed at the Real Madrid forward as excessive and unjustified.
Mbappe enters the global tournament facing mounting pressure after enduring another season without major silverware at Real Madrid, as the Spanish powerhouse fell short in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
The French skipper is expected to spearhead Les Bleus’ campaign, beginning with their opening World Cup clash against Senegal next week. However, discussions surrounding his form and leadership qualities have continued to attract significant attention across Spain and France.
In an interview with Spanish outlet Marca, as reported by BBC Sport, Dembele expressed his frustration over the constant scrutiny directed at his teammate.
“The criticism he receives is extremely unfair. Some people take it too far when talking about Kylian,” Dembele stated.
“He is an outstanding footballer and a great individual away from the pitch. Because he is Kylian Mbappe, people often exaggerate their criticism. It needs to stop.”
The Paris Saint-Germain star believes Mbappe is held to a different standard because of his global profile and status among football’s elite.
“No matter what he does, whether it’s something as small as tying his boots or adjusting his socks, people make a big deal out of it. At the end of the day, he is a human being,” Dembele said.
“Within the France squad, he is excellent. He is a true leader for us.”
Dembele’s remarks come as France prepare for another bid to reclaim the World Cup title after narrowly losing to Argentina in the 2022 final in Qatar.
Mbappe was one of the standout performers in that tournament, producing a historic hat-trick in the final, although France eventually lost in a penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, Dembele arrives at the World Cup on the back of one of the most impressive campaigns of his career. The winger has emerged as a strong Ballon d’Or contender after helping Paris Saint-Germain secure a second straight UEFA Champions League crown following Mbappe’s exit from the club in 2024.
Despite experiencing contrasting fortunes at club level, both players remain key figures in Didier Deschamps’ squad.
France are set to face Senegal in their Group opener before taking on Iraq and Norway in subsequent matches.
Dembele also praised Deschamps, who has confirmed that he will leave his position as France manager after the World Cup.
“He is simply a remarkable coach,” Dembele said.
Deschamps guided France to World Cup success in 2018 and led the team to another final in 2022, establishing himself as one of the nation’s most accomplished managers.
The PSG winger also voiced his support for former France and Real Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane as a potential successor to Deschamps.
“We would be delighted to see him take charge of the national team one day. I have no doubt he would do an excellent job,” Dembele added.