France winger Ousmane Dembele has come to the defense of his national teammate Kylian Mbappe, insisting that the relentless criticism directed at the Real Madrid star is unwarranted. Speaking to Marca before France’s opening match against Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Dembele expressed his frustration with the negative attention Mbappe has faced since being named captain of Les Bleus in 2023.
Dembele emphasized that Mbappe is an extraordinary talent and a wonderful person off the field, and the harsh scrutiny is excessive. “There’s too much criticism aimed at Kylian,” Dembele said. “He’s an incredible player, a top-class talent, and a great guy away from the pitch. People need to stop being so aggressive toward him.”
The criticism has intensified after Mbappe failed to secure any major silverware with Real Madrid during the previous season. However, Dembele believes that the constant negativity is unfair and takes away from Mbappe’s contributions to both club and country. “They find fault with everything he does, and that’s just too much,” Dembele added.
As France prepares for their World Cup campaign, Dembele’s words serve as a reminder of the immense pressure Mbappe faces as one of football’s brightest stars. The French team hopes to put the criticism aside and focus on their quest for glory in the tournament.