Split in France: Ousmane Dembélé sends another veiled message to Kylian Mbappé

France's new national team coach, the legendary Zinedine Zidane, is already confronting internal tensions: a growing rift between Ousmane Dembélé and captain Kylian Mbappé has resurfaced in public.

Veiled comments and growing unease

Dembélé reignited the dispute after journalists asked him who he considered the best player in the world. He replied with an apparent mock name: "Kvicha Kvarackelija is the best in the world." He then added: "I would be delighted if Kvarackelija won the Ballon d'Or because he deserves it." French media and supporters interpreted both remarks as a pointed, indirect message to Mbappé.

The exchange follows an interview Mbappé gave to France Football in which he compared his own trajectory to Dembélé's. In that conversation, Mbappé said: "Dembélé? He was always considered a talented player. I, on the other hand, was always seen as the chosen one. I reached the top very early. Ousmane had a different path, marked by injuries, but he managed to come back."

Dembélé — described in recent reports as last year's Ballon d'Or winner — answered questions after PSG's victory over Brest by framing his career as one of effort rather than early selection. He told reporters: "You know, I was always at the bottom of the class, I worked hard. During my career I didn't say anything, but I worked incredibly hard. As I said, I was never chosen. But I worked incredibly hard."

Major French outlets such as L'Équipe and RMC Sport say Dembélé's remarks prompted a reaction from people close to Mbappé. Former France international and commentator Jérôme Rothen warned that the situation risks splitting the squad. He said: "I'm told many internationals again do not understand his statements. They are more on Dembélé's side than Mbappé's. Although it is the same team, it seems two camps have formed. I'm really curious to see how Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé will shake hands at the next national-team meeting. I think it will be extremely tense."

Inside the dressing room, some players reportedly interpreted Mbappé's earlier words as diminishing the rest of the squad. Rothen added: "The impression left at the World Cup is even clearer today. Many players had problems with Mbappé's behaviour and statements, that's a fact. He turned many against him in the national team. The World Cup ended that way, and when you are the top scorer and behave properly, as Kylian did then, criticism in the team is silenced. However, such statements will hurt now." The comments leave Zidane with an early and delicate team-management challenge.

Photo: press material from the event