Ousmane Dembele Points Out Bizarre Standard Kylian Mbappe Faces

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Ousmane Dembele Points Out Bizarre Standard Kylian Mbappe Faces

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Jun 12, 2026 5:29 PM ET

Ousmane Dembélé does not seem to understand why every little thing involving Kylian Mbappe turns into a major debate.

From the outside, Mbappe’s life in soccer can look almost impossible to manage. He scores, leads France, carries huge expectations, and still finds himself at the center of criticism for things that often have very little to do with the actual game. Dembélé clearly feels that has become unfair.

The France winger knows Mbappe better than most. They have shared dressing rooms, played together for the national team, and seen each other away from the cameras. So when Dembele was asked about the constant noise around Mbappe, he pushed back strongly.

“They've been very unfair to him,” Dembele said. “They go a bit overboard with the criticism of Kylian because he's an incredible player. A great person off the field, because I've known him for a long time. Sometimes they go too far with the criticism just because it's Kylian Mbappe.”

For Dembele, the problem is not that Mbappe gets judged. That is normal for a player of his level. The issue is that the judgment seems to follow him everywhere, even into moments that would be ignored if they involved almost anyone else.

He joked that people will find a way to talk about Mbappe whether he ties his boots, adjusts his socks, or does something completely harmless. His point was simple: the standards around Mbappé have become strange.

“They shouldn't be so hard on him. Whether he ties his shoelaces, whether he doesn't tie them, whether he pulls up his socks, whether he doesn't put them on... It's too much. Because he's still a human being and a player of exceptional quality.”

Dembélé also made it clear that inside the France national team, Mbappe’s position has not changed. Whatever people are saying outside, his teammates still see him as a central figure.

“In any case, here on the French national team, he gets along very well with us,” Dembele said. “He's a leader, the captain of our team, and a very important player.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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