Ousmane Dembélé defends Kylian Mbappé over mounting criticism

June 13, 2026 • 0 • min read

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Ousmane Dembélé defends Kylian Mbappé over mounting criticism

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Dembélé says the criticism of Mbappé has become unfair and excessive.
Mbappé remains a respected leader in the France dressing room.
France will lean on Mbappé as they target World Cup success.

Ousmane Dembélé has come to the defence of France captain Kylian Mbappé, insisting the criticism aimed at the Real Madrid forward has become excessive and unfair.

Mbappé has faced intense scrutiny during a challenging period for the Spanish giants, with supporters and pundits questioning both his performances and the club's overall direction.

Criticism of Real Madrid star intensifies

Since arriving at the Spanish giants on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, expectations surrounding the French superstar have remained exceptionally high.

However, Madrid's struggles in domestic and European competitions have led many observers to place much of the blame on Mbappé.

The criticism has occasionally reached extraordinary levels, with sections of supporters voicing their frustration and online campaigns calling for his departure attracting significant attention.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, Dembélé argued that the focus on Mbappé has gone far beyond football.

They've been very unfair to him. People go a bit overboard with the criticism of Kylian because he's an incredible player.

He's also a great person away from football. I've known him for a long time. Sometimes people criticise him simply because he's Kylian Mbappé.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger suggested that even the smallest details of Mbappé's behaviour are unnecessarily dissected.

Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not, people talk about it. It's too much. He's still a human being and an exceptional player.

Mbappé's importance to France remains undisputed

Whilst debate surrounding Mbappé continues at club level, Dembélé made it clear that the forward's standing within the French national team remains unchanged.

The winger highlighted Mbappé's leadership qualities and influence within Didier Deschamps' squad, describing him as a central figure both on and off the pitch.

Here with the French national team, he gets along very well with all of us. He's a leader, our captain and a very important player.

Mbappé has been one of France's most influential players over the past decade.

He played a key role in France's 2018 FIFA World Cup triumph and delivered one of the greatest individual performances in World Cup final history when he scored a hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 final, despite ending up on the losing side.

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France focused on World Cup success

As France prepare for their 2026 World Cup campaign, Mbappé is expected to remain at the heart of Les Bleus' ambitions.

With a squad packed with talent and experience, France will once again be among the favourites to challenge for the trophy.

Dembélé's public backing underlines the respect Mbappé continues to command within the dressing room, regardless of the criticism he faces elsewhere.

For France, the focus remains firmly on what their captain can deliver on the pitch rather than the noise surrounding him off it.