Critics have gone too far on Mbappe — Dembele

By Adegboyega Adeleye

France forward Ousmane Dembele has defended captain Kylian Mbappé ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that criticism of the Real Madrid star has become excessive and unfair.

Mbappé enters the tournament under intense scrutiny after another trophyless season with Real Madrid, during which the Spanish club failed to secure either La Liga or the UEFA Champions League.

The France captain is expected to lead Les Bleus when they open their World Cup campaign against Senegal next week, yet questions about his performances and leadership have continued to dominate headlines in both Spain and France.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca and quoted by BBC Sport, Dembele said the criticism directed at Mbappé has crossed the line.

“The criticism towards him is very, very unfair. Some people go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian,” Dembele said.

“He’s an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch. Some people overdo the criticism because he’s Kylian Mbappé. They shouldn’t keep going after him.”

The Paris Saint‑Germain winger suggested Mbappé is judged more harshly than most players because of his status as one of the biggest names in world football.

“Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not, it’s too much. He’s still a human being,” Dembele added.

“With the France team, he’s very good with us, he’s a leader.”

The comments come as France prepares for another attempt to win the World Cup after finishing runners‑up to Argentina in Qatar 2022.

Mbappé was one of the stars of that tournament, scoring a memorable hat‑trick in the final despite France’s defeat on penalties.

Dembele, meanwhile, arrives at the World Cup enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career. The winger is among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or after helping Paris Saint‑Germain win a second consecutive UEFA Champions League title following Mbappé’s departure from the club in 2024.

Despite their different club fortunes, the pair remain central figures for Didier Deschamps’ side.

France will face Senegal in their opening Group match before further fixtures against Iraq and Norway.

Dembele also paid tribute to Deschamps, who has already announced he will step down as France coach after the World Cup.

“He’s simply an exceptional coach,” Dembele said.

Deschamps guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and led them to another final four years later, cementing his status as one of the most successful managers in the country’s history.

Dembele also welcomed the prospect of former France and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane eventually succeeding Deschamps.

“We hope to welcome him one day to the France bench. I’m convinced he would do a fantastic job,” he said.

Vanguard News

The post Critics have gone too far on Mbappé — Dembele appeared first on Vanguard News.