Mbappé Addresses ‘Chosen One’ Debate with Dembélé
What began as a sharp line in a magazine interview has turned into the first off‑field subplot of France’s international break. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, two pillars of Didier Deschamps’ attack, found themselves at the centre of a debate they insist does not exist.
It started on September 11, in the pages of France Football. Asked about his chances of lifting the Ballon d'Or, to be awarded on October 26 in London, Mbappé drew a comparison between his own rise and Dembélé’s more winding route.
“He has always been considered a talented player. I have always been seen as the chosen one. I was at the top from the start. He had a different path, injuries, but he recovered well,” the Real Madrid forward said of his former PSG teammate.
The phrase “the chosen one” stuck. It bounced around social networks, talk shows, and news sites. Two days later, Dembélé answered – without ever saying Mbappé’s name.
Speaking on Ligue 1+, the current Ballon d'Or holder deliberately leaned on the same wording. “Throughout my entire career, I haven't said a single word, I have worked very hard. As I said, I have never been the chosen one, but I have worked hard, and last year I was rewarded with a fantastic season at PSG. And this year, we'll see, no pressure, calm.”
The echo was impossible to miss. Suddenly, a subtle contrast in career narratives was being sold as a rift inside the France dressing room.
“He is a friend”: Mbappé shuts it down
Their reunion on international duty only cranked up the noise. Cameras followed every training-ground exchange, every smile, every high-five, searching for signs of tension.
Mbappé has now tried to slam that door shut. Speaking to L’Équipe, the France captain made it clear he had already addressed the issue directly with Dembélé.
“I’ve already talked it over with him and no, there are no tensions. He is a friend. I really think there is no problem at all in that regard, I’m very calm,” said the number 10 during an event for his new sponsor.
For Mbappé, the flare‑up says more about the environment around the national team than about his relationship with his teammate. “During the Nations League period and with the French national team, you always have to look for a topic of debate, and I think this one is very well chosen,” he added, underlining how quickly a single expression can be turned into a storyline.
With the Ballon d'Or decision looming and France chasing more silverware, the question now is simple: will this brief war of words be remembered as a footnote, or the first sign of how heavy the ‘chosen one’ tag can really become?
