Paris may be where Ousmane Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or season was sealed, but the first tremor of its aftermath has reached the France camp. As Zinedine Zidane begins his tenure with Les Bleus, he must balance the standing of the new award winner with that of captain Kylian Mbappé before the Nations League opens in Turkey.
The issue grew from Mbappé’s reflections on Dembélé’s individual prize. The Real Madrid forward said his friend had long been viewed as a player of exceptional talent, while Mbappé himself had been labelled “the chosen one” from an early age.
After a Paris Saint-Germain match, Dembélé answered with a pointed use of the same phrase. “I was never the chosen one. I worked and was rewarded,” he said.
Quick facts
- Dembélé is the current Ballon d’Or holder after a major season with Paris Saint-Germain.
- Mbappé will captain France against Turkey in Zidane’s first match in charge.
- France visit Turkey on Friday and Belgium three days later in the Nations League.
- Italy visit the Stade de France on 2 October, followed by another Belgium fixture there on 5 October.
- Fabien Barthez has joined Zidane’s staff as France’s goalkeeping coach.
The wording caused a stir in France because it appeared to answer Mbappé directly. French football writer Tom Williams said the repetition did not look accidental, and interpreted it as Dembélé’s reminder that he has earned his place among the leading figures of the national side.
“It is a sign that Dembélé does not want to remain in Mbappé’s shadow,” Williams said. “He is reminding people that he won the Ballon d’Or legitimately, even if his path has been different.”
The debate has also followed Mbappé’s extensive media appearances as he pursues the first Ballon d’Or of his own career. Stéphane Darmani said many in the French press have viewed the striker’s public positioning as political, while criticism has extended to remarks involving Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.
Darmani said some of the reaction has become excessive, with pundits even questioning Mbappé’s right to speak as a winner because he has not won the Champions League. He argued that Mbappé’s record should not be dismissed, even if Dembélé now has two European titles.
France’s communications staff kept Mbappé away from the pre-match press conference before Turkey, selecting Adrien Rabiot instead. The decision came after a succession of interviews and was intended to prevent the discussion gathering further momentum.
Mbappé has moved to calm matters since arriving at the squad’s base. “I have already spoken with him and there is no tension,” he said. “He is a friend, and I truly do not think there is any problem. I am very relaxed.”
Zidane’s first dressing-room test
Zidane took over from Didier Deschamps last Friday, inheriting a group filled with players accustomed to being central figures at their clubs. Mbappé remains the captain and France’s foremost attacking reference; Dembélé arrives as a Ballon d’Or winner and a key name in PSG’s back-to-back Champions League triumphs.
Both forwards have known each other since they were 15 and have consistently described their relationship as close. Williams does not regard the exchange as a major dressing-room rupture, but believes it is nevertheless the first personnel issue Zidane must decide how to handle.
There is confidence that the former France No. 10 can settle it. Williams noted the respect both players hold for Zidane, particularly Mbappé, who has repeatedly spoken of him as one of the game’s defining figures.
The atmosphere around Clairefontaine has so far been buoyant. Darmani described players enjoying Zidane’s involvement in attacking exercises, with the new coach still delivering passes and crosses in training that have impressed the squad.
Barthez, Zidane’s fellow 1998 World Cup winner, has added a more playful presence as goalkeeping coach. The federation granted an exception for the former goalkeeper to take the post despite his lack of the usual coaching qualifications, and his work with Mike Maignan has been accompanied by a lighter mood in camp.
Mbappé’s earlier flashpoints
The 27-year-old has navigated high-profile tensions before. At PSG, his partnership with Neymar came under scrutiny, especially in August 2022 when Mbappé missed one penalty in a 5-2 league win over Montpellier before Neymar took and scored a later spot kick.
He also clashed publicly with Thomas Tuchel after being substituted during PSG’s 5-0 victory over Montpellier in 2020. Tuchel responded that selection decisions belonged to the coach and called for respect.
Before Euro 2021, Mbappé was irritated by Olivier Giroud’s complaint that he did not receive passes despite making good runs. Mbappé believed the comments were aimed at him and later acknowledged his frustration.
The situation with Dembélé differs because of the pair’s long friendship, but it still alters the internal landscape. France now have two attacking stars carrying distinct authority into a new era, and Zidane’s opening assignment is to ensure that status does not become separation.
Turkey away on Friday provides the first public measure of that balance. Belgium follow three days later, before Italy and Belgium come to Saint-Denis in October, giving Zidane little time to turn a celebratory new chapter into a settled one.
