Dembele’s Ballon d’Or remarks could affect France, warns analyst amid Mbappe rivalry

Ousmane Dembele’s comments about the Ballon d’Or could have an impact on the atmosphere within the France squad, according to analyst Walid Acherchour.

Speaking on RMC’s After Football programme, Acherchour said Dembele’s words had created tension after Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-0 victory over Brest in the fourth round of the French league on Sunday.

Dembele, who created the only goal scored by Ferran Torres, was asked about his chances of retaining the Ballon d’Or. His response appeared significant given recent comments from Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe about the award.

“I’ve always been like that, at the back of the line, working hard,” Dembele said. “Throughout my career I haven’t said a word, I’ve simply worked incredibly hard. I was never chosen, but I worked hard.

“Last year I was rewarded for an excellent year with Paris Saint-Germain, and this year we will see. There is no pressure; I am relaxed.”

Acherchour connected Dembele’s reference to not being “the chosen one” with previous remarks from Mbappe about his own prospects of winning the Ballon d’Or.

The Real Madrid forward had said he had always been viewed as “the chosen one”, a phrase Acherchour believes Dembele may have taken personally.

“This could create a problem for the France team, because Mbappe’s statement could be understood in that way,” Acherchour said. “I am convinced that Ousmane Dembele may have taken it personally.”

The analyst added that Dembele’s decision to repeat the phrase after the match was unlikely to have been accidental, particularly because comments made by high-profile players can spread rapidly on social media.

“What Dembele did in the French league tonight is not insignificant,” Acherchour said. “He repeated the same phrase used by Kylian Mbappe. We know exactly what is happening on social media these days and how widely these comments can spread, so I do not believe he did it casually.”

Acherchour said the relationship between the two players should now be monitored closely as both reach a new level with their clubs.

He suggested that the situation between Dembele and Mbappe deserved attention both at Paris Saint-Germain and within the France squad, where the pair remain part of the same international set-up.