Mbappe rejects reports of rift with Dembele as Ballon d’Or race intensifies

Kylian Mbappe has denied there is any tension between him and France team-mate Ousmane Dembele, as the pair compete to retain the men’s Ballon d’Or.

The award winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 26, with clubs and players campaigning for the prestigious individual prize.

Mbappe, who plays for Real Madrid, told France Football magazine that he believes he can win the trophy this year. France Football organises the award.

The striker also reflected on his contrasting career with Dembele, who won the Ballon d’Or last year.

Asked about the fact that, a decade ago, few people would have expected Dembele to claim the award before him, Mbappe said: “But he has always been seen as a talented player.

“I, on the other hand, have always been seen as the chosen one. I was at the top right away, from a very young age. He had a different journey, with injuries, but he has caught up really well.”

Reports suggested the remarks had caused friction between the two France internationals. However, both players joined the national team camp on Monday and Mbappe insisted their relationship had not changed.

“I’ve already spoken to him about it, and there’s no tension,” Mbappe told L’Equipe in an interview linked to his work as an ambassador for the brand On.

“He’s a friend. I don’t think there’s really any problem regarding that. I’m very relaxed about it.”

Dembele is in contention to win the Ballon d’Or for a second successive year after helping Paris Saint-Germain secure a second straight Champions League title last season.

Both Dembele and Mbappe featured for France at the World Cup in June and July. France were beaten by eventual winners Spain in the semi-finals.

Although winning a major trophy is generally considered important in the Ballon d’Or voting, Mbappe set a World Cup record during the tournament by moving beyond Lionel Messi’s previous mark for goals in the competition.

He has scored 22 World Cup goals in total, doing so in fewer matches than Messi.

Mbappe was absent from France’s training session on Tuesday after suffering from flu, according to the team.

The squad has assembled at Clairefontaine, on the outskirts of Paris, for a camp before four Nations League fixtures.

France will travel to play Turkey on Friday and Belgium on Monday, before hosting Italy on October 2 and Belgium on October 5.

Mbappe, who helped France win the 2018 World Cup, remains captain under new coach Zinedine Zidane.