Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have moved to ease tensions over their recent Ballon d’Or comments after former France international Marcus Thuram intervened to help settle the disagreement between the two forwards.
The issue emerged after Mbappe compared the different paths taken by the two players, saying he had been regarded as “the chosen one” from the beginning of his career while Dembele had faced injuries and other obstacles before reaching the top.
The Real Madrid forward said: “Dembele was always seen as a talented player, while I was the chosen player from the beginning. We each took a different path in our careers.”
Dembele appeared to respond to those comments by highlighting the work he had put into his career rather than any special treatment. The Paris Saint-Germain striker said his success had come after years of effort and a strong season.
“Throughout my career I haven’t talked much, I’ve worked hard. I was never the chosen player, but I kept working until the reward came after a great season.”
The exchange created tension around the France squad, according to French website Foot Mercato, despite the longstanding relationship between the two players from their time together in France’s youth teams and senior side.
Thuram is reported to have played a role in defusing the situation through a private WhatsApp group involving himself, Mbappe and Dembele.
His intervention helped reduce the tension between the two players as attention increasingly focused on their contrasting comments about the Ballon d’Or race.
Mbappe subsequently sought to play down suggestions of a serious disagreement with his France team-mate, insisting that the pair had already discussed the issue.
“I have already spoken to him about this matter, and there is no tension, and I don’t think there is a real problem, but during French national team gatherings there is always a topic that sparks discussion, and it seems that this topic was carefully chosen.”
The incident has occurred during growing discussion over the contenders for the Ballon d’Or, with both Mbappe and Dembele featuring among the names being considered for the prestigious individual award.
Mbappe’s comments had drawn attention because they touched on the different experiences the two players have had during their careers. While Mbappe referred to the expectations surrounding him from an early stage, Dembele’s response focused on the work he had done before receiving recognition.
The exchange briefly raised questions about the relationship between the two France forwards, but comments from Mbappe have since indicated that the matter has been discussed directly between them.
Thuram’s intervention is also understood to have helped prevent the disagreement from developing further within the France squad.
The situation now appears to have been brought under control, with the two players maintaining their focus as the Ballon d’Or debate continues.
What began with comments about their respective careers quickly became a talking point around the France national team, but the involvement of Thuram and Mbappe’s subsequent clarification have helped bring the episode to an end.
The attention can now return to the Ballon d’Or race, where Mbappe and Dembele remain among the players at the centre of the discussion.
