Candid talks with Mbappé, new role, Ousmane Dembélé’s growing influence with France | OneFootball

Ballon d'Or France Football 2025 and now a double European champion with PSG, Ousmane Dembélé enters the World Cup with heightened status. According to L'Équipe, his influence with France is growing without changing who he is.

Similar scenes marked the Bayern Munich second leg after a 5-4 first leg. In the final against Arsenal, a 1-1 draw won 4-3 on penalties, he again urged team-mates on from the bench.

With France, perception has shifted. Third-most senior after a first cap in September 2016, he even turned down a post-final rest, insisting this World Cup is paramount to him.

His positivity has long bound generations, and an ex-international recalls the mood dipping after his Euro 2021 injury. Mbappé has privately said his own tournament changed once Dembélé left.

He has shed the notion he avoided weighty topics, sounding assured in media and within the squad. In recent weeks he has told Mbappé more defensive work is needed for France than at club. The pair spend considerable time together in camp.

On collective matters he defers to the captain, though he is consulted on topics such as bonuses with FFF president Philippe Diallo. He granted interviews to ESPN and Marca on Saturday, with the next Ballon d'Or ceremony set for 26 October. On the official pre-World Cup photo he stood to Didier Deschamps’ right in the front row, a spot once kept for Antoine Griezmann, now ahead of vice-captain Aurélien Tchouaméni.

Source: L'Équipe