Ousmane Dembele Responds To Claims Kylian Mbappe Attacked Him Amid Ballon d’Or Race

The race for individual glory took a direct turn following recent public statements. Speaking to France Football, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé claimed he was unmatched last season. Les Bleus captain also reiterated that he had always seen himself as the chosen one in this pursuit.

That statement drew an immediate response from the reigning holder. Winner of the 2025 award, Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembélé looked to reframe the debate, replying that he was never the chosen one, but rather worked tirelessly. The PSG forward clearly intends to defend his status against his former teammate without resorting to self-celebration.

This war of words comes as voting has officially closed. The jury submitted their final picks before the deadline, and the Ballon d’Or organisers are now preparing the ceremony scheduled for October 26, 2026, in London. Even though the ballots are in, claims from both contenders continue to fuel debates and shape public opinion.

In the middle of this all-French battle, another prime contender shared his perspective. FC Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal insisted that the award should recognize a player who truly makes a difference on the pitch. The Spain international stressed that an individual’s overall impact goes far beyond raw goalscoring numbers alone.

At the same time, the Madrid camp launched a carefully calculated media push. Alongside features in As, the Real Madrid forward spoke with RFI to target African voters. According to journalist Olivier Pron, specific geopolitical and institutional topics were deliberately avoided to keep the focus firmly on the campaign.

This frenzy reflects a major shift in the race for individual honours. As a former editor-in-chief of the organising weekly, Pascal Ferré notes an unprecedented level of noise surrounding the men’s vote. Sport Market agency director Bruno Bianzina explains that players now craft their own narrative instead of letting their respective clubs do the legwork.

The lack of a clear front-runner drives every hopeful to ramp up the media pressure to push their own agenda. As PSG stay on track in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, this war of words contrasts sharply with the low-key build-ups of past ceremonies. On-pitch reality will take center stage again once the final outcome is officially revealed in London.