Ousmane Dembélé breaks silence in riposte to Kylian Mbappé and starts 2026 Ballon d'Or push | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé, last year's Ballon d'Or winner, has opened his 2026 bid in the same vein, emphasising humility and meritocracy. He also answered Kylian Mbappé firmly on Sunday.

According to L'Équipe, that intervention marked a rare departure from his usual reserve, a sign he is not prepared to accept everything.

Dembélé featured as Paris Saint-Germain beat Slovan Bratislava 6-1 in the Champions League league phase.

Long painted, in France, Germany and Spain, as a dressing-room livewire with a ready punchline, his smile and light touch have often overshadowed substance.

There is more to him. Through years of setbacks, battles and successes, the Paris forward has come to see how careers can hinge on what happens off the pitch.

Source: L'Équipe

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