Criticism of Mbappe ‘very unfair’ – Dembele

France forward Ousmane Dembélé has defended national team captain Kylian Mbappé, saying the scrutiny directed at the Real Madrid striker has become “very, very unfair” and has gone too far.

Mbappé has faced sustained criticism in Spain following a trophyless season with Real Madrid, as well as ongoing debate in France over his leadership role since becoming national team captain in 2023.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca on Friday, Dembélé said the level of attention on Mbappé often crosses a line.

“The criticism towards him is very, very unfair,” he said. “Some people go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian.”

He added that Mbappé’s global status often fuels exaggerated reactions from fans and pundits alike.

“He’s an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch. Some people overdo the criticism because he’s Kylian Mbappe. They shouldn’t keep going after him.”

Dembélé also said even minor details of Mbappé’s behaviour are unfairly magnified.

Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not… it’s too much. He’s still a human being. With the France team, he’s very good with us, he’s a leader.”

The comments come during a strong period for Dembélé, who is among the contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or after helping Paris Saint-Germain secure back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles.

Both Dembélé and Mbappé are expected to play key roles for France in their upcoming World Cup campaign, where they are set to face Senegal, Iraq, and Norway in the group stage.

Dembélé also praised head coach Didier Deschamps, who will step down after the tournament.

“He’s simply an exceptional coach,” Dembélé said. “He will forever remain a legend among French national team coaches.”

Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and a final appearance in 2022, is widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in the country’s history.

Looking ahead, Dembélé also welcomed the possibility of former France captain Zinedine Zidane taking charge of the national team in the future.

“We hope to welcome him one day to the France bench. I’m convinced he would do a fantastic job,” he said.

Zidane, a 1998 World Cup winner as a player and former Real Madrid coach, has long been linked with the France job but has remained silent on the role while Deschamps remains in charge.