Dembélé replies to Mbappé: "I was never the chosen one…"
Dembélé says he was never 'the chosen one' and points to hard work after PSG's game against Brest.
Kylian Mbappé's recent comments about last season's top performers drew a public reply from Ousmane Dembélé, who dismissed the notion that he was ever considered the favorite for the Ballon d'Or.
Mbappé, now at Real Madrid, said in a recent interview that he "didn't see another player who was better than him last season" and added: "I have always been the one to watch. Ousmane Dembélé? He was always seen as a talented player. I, on the other hand, have always been seen as the chosen one."
Dembélé, the Ballon d'Or winner from last year, answered late after Paris Saint-Germain's match against Brest. Speaking to reporters, he challenged the idea that selection is a matter of being "chosen" rather than earned.
Dembele stresses work over labels
"As I said, I was never 'the chosen one', but I worked extremely hard. And last year I was rewarded…" Dembélé said.
He added: "We'll see this year, I'm calm. I've always been one of those who stand in the background and work hard. That's how my whole career has been; I have not said a single word. All I do is work hard."
The exchange has reignited debate around the Ballon d'Or for 2026, with several high-profile players expressing views on who should be considered for the prize. Both Mbappé and Dembélé remain central figures in the discussion as the season progresses.
Photo: press material from the event
