France forward Ousmane Dembele has come to the defence of his national team captain, Kylian Mbappe, asserting that the scrutiny directed at the Real Madrid striker has become "excessive" as the squad prepares for the upcoming World Cup. Dembele, himself a crucial player for France and a contender for this year's Ballon d'Or after a successful season with Paris St Germain, told Spanish newspaper Marca that some commentators had gone "a bit too far" in their assessment of his long-time teammate.
Mbappe has remained a figure of intense debate in French football since his transfer to Real Madrid in 2024. Despite a prolific goal-scoring record, the France captain faced considerable criticism during a season where Real Madrid did not secure either the La Liga title or the Champions League. Pundits and fans alike have also questioned his leadership within the national team since he took over the captaincy following Hugo Lloris's international retirement. Mbappe's performances, public appearances, and even minor aspects of his behaviour frequently spark heated discussions across France.
"The criticism towards him is very, very unfair," Dembele stated ahead of France's World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday. "Some people go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian. He's an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch. Some people overdo the criticism because he's Kylian Mbappe. They shouldn't keep going after him." Dembele added, "Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not... it's too much. He's still a human being. With the France team, he's very good with us, he's a leader."
The two forwards have developed a close working relationship during their time representing Les Bleus and are anticipated to play central roles in France's pursuit of a third World Cup title in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their synergy on the pitch will be vital as France aims to build on their 2018 victory and 2022 final appearance.
Dembele also used the opportunity to praise coach Didier Deschamps, who has announced his intention to step down after the World Cup, concluding over a decade at the helm of the national side. "He's simply an exceptional coach," Dembele remarked. "He will forever remain a legend among French national team coaches." Deschamps famously guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and another final four years later. When asked about the prospect of former France great Zinedine Zidane succeeding Deschamps, Dembele expressed his approval, stating, "We hope to welcome him one day to the France bench. I'm convinced he would do a fantastic job." Zidane, a World Cup winner as a player in 1998 and a highly successful coach at Real Madrid, has long been linked with the France job but has consistently refrained from discussing the position while Deschamps remains in charge.