Ousmane Dembele Defends Kylian Mbappe Amid Criticism Ahead of FIFA World Cup

Dembele Stands Up for Mbappe

Boston [US], June 13: Ousmane Dembele, the forward for France, has publicly supported his national team captain, Kylian Mbappe, asserting that the backlash against him is "extremely unfair and excessive."

As France prepares for their opening match against Senegal on June 17, the previous year's Ballon d'Or winner expressed his thoughts to a Spanish outlet, Marca, highlighting that some critics have crossed the line in their remarks about Mbappe, who ended the season without any trophies at Real Madrid.

Since transferring to the Spanish club in 2024 from Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe has faced intense scrutiny for his inability to secure significant titles, including La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

Despite being a top goal scorer, the criticism intensified this year as Real Madrid concluded their second consecutive season without major achievements. Mbappe has been the subject of ongoing debates regarding his leadership, performance, and behavior, which have persisted even during his time with the French national team, where he played a pivotal role in their 2018 FIFA World Cup victory and their runner-up finish in 2022, scoring four goals in two finals.

Dembele remarked, "The criticism directed at him is very, very unfair. Some individuals take it too far when discussing Kylian. He is an extraordinary player and a wonderful person off the field. The level of criticism he receives is excessive, whether it’s about how he ties his shoelaces or pulls up his socks... it’s too much. He is still a human being," as quoted by Marca.

He further added, "With the France team, he is excellent; he is a leader."

Dembele and Mbappe have forged a strong bond, both professionally and personally, during their time with the national team, and they are expected to play vital roles in France's quest for a third star on their jersey in the upcoming World Cup.

Additionally, Dembele paid homage to their esteemed coach, Didier Deschamps, who is anticipated to step down after more than a decade of leading the team, during which they secured a World Cup and a UEFA Nations League title, along with a runner-up finish in the last World Cup held in Qatar in 2022.

He described Deschamps as an "exceptional manager" who will "always be remembered as a legend."

When asked about the possibility of former French football star Zinedine Zidane taking over from Deschamps, Dembele expressed optimism, believing Zidane would excel in the role. Zidane, a 1998 World Cup champion with France and a successful manager at Real Madrid, has been rumored for the position but has stated he will not engage in discussions while Deschamps is still in charge.

"We hope to see him on the France bench one day," Dembele concluded. "I am confident he would do an outstanding job," he added.