Dembélé Defends Mbappé Amid France World Cup Strain]

Just days before France launches their 2026 World Cup campaign against Iraq, captain Kylian Mbappé has faced intense criticism domestically after temporarily departing the national team camp for personal reasons—an absence officially sanctioned by French coaching staff. Amid the growing media scrutiny, longtime international teammate Ousmane Dembélé publicly defended the Real Madrid forward.

“The criticism aimed at Kylian has been excessive. They’re being overly harsh toward him simply because he’s an exceptional player and genuinely good person off the field,” Dembélé stated in an exclusive interview with MARK. “I’ve known him for a long time. The scrutiny surrounding Mbappé has gone too far. People shouldn’t be so hard on him.

Mbappé has been under constant media pressure since before joining the French squad. During Real Madrid’s final domestic fixtures, the forward sustained a minor injury while rehabbing, which led to speculation after he was photographed traveling with his partner—a move that drew criticism from supporters.

For Dembélé, the relentless criticism targeting Mbappé has crossed into unreasonable territory. “If he ties his shoelaces, if he doesn’t tie them, if he pulls up his socks, if he doesn’t… it’s just too much,” the Paris Saint-Germain winger said. “At the end of the day, he remains a human being, as talented as he is.”

Reports of internal team divisions within the French squad emerged following The Blues‘ surprising 2-1 friendly loss to Ivory Coast prior to the World Cup. Video clips circulated showing what appeared to be tension between veteran midfielder N’Golo Kanté and Mbappé before their match warmup, fueling questions about the captain’s influence.

Dembélé quickly dismissed the rumors, highlighting Mbappé’s strong relationships throughout the squad. “Mbappé gets along well with everyone here. He’s our captain and an incredibly vital player for our goals,” Dembélé emphasized. “There are no issues in the locker room.”

As France begins their pursuit of a third championship, coach Didier Deschamps and his players are united, choosing to focus internally while their captain readies for the opener.

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