Kylian Mbappé is playing down any bad blood with Ousmane Dembélé, but let’s be real, his “chosen one” comments are still echoing across the soccer world as the Ballon d’Or race heats up. With the prestigious award ceremony set for London on October 26, the intensity is through the roof, and Mbappé’s latest interview threw some serious fuel on the fire for this France teammate rivalry.
The “Chosen One” Vibe Has Everyone Talking
Mbappé isn’t holding back on his personal ambitions. He’s telling France Football, the organization behind the trophy, that he absolutely believes he can snag the Ballon d’Or this year. And when you compare yourself to a guy who *won* it last year, like Dembélé did, you know the stakes are sky-high. Mbappé reportedly dropped a quote for the ages when he was reminded that 10 years ago, nobody would’ve pegged Dembélé to win this thing before him. Mbappé’s reply? “But he has always been seen as a talented player. I, on the other hand, have always been seen as the chosen one. I was at the top right away, from a very young age. He had a different journey, with injuries, but he has caught up really well!” Yeah, that’s not exactly subtle, is it? Those words reportedly created some serious tension between the two French stars, and honestly, you can see why.
No Tension Here, Folks… Or Is There?
Despite the reports, Mbappé is doing his best to squash the drama. The France squad is about to gather Monday for a training camp ahead of some big Nations League matches, and Mbappé says his relationship with Dembélé is totally unchanged. He told L’Équipe during an interview, connected to his role as an ambassador for the On brand, “I’ve already spoken to him about it, and there’s no tension. He’s a friend. I don’t think there’s really any problem regarding that. I’m very relaxed about it.” Sure, he’s relaxed, but you have to wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes when one friend publicly says he’s always been “the chosen one” compared to the other.
Ballon d’Or, World Cup Glory, and What Comes Next
This Ballon d’Or battle is wild because Dembélé isn’t just a former winner, he’s coming off claiming a second straight Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain last season. That’s a huge resume boost, giving him a real shot to retain the award. While it’s tough to win the accolade without a major trophy, Mbappé has some history-making moments of his own. Both guys played for France at the World Cup, where their team ultimately lost to Spain in the semifinals. But Mbappé made waves by overtaking Lionel Messi for the most all-time World Cup goals, hitting 22 in fewer games. That’s no small feat! As they head into France training, all eyes will be on how these two interact, especially with the Ballon d’Or announcement in London just around the corner on October 26. Who takes home the ultimate individual prize? We’re all watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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