‘I’ve never been the chosen one’ – Dembele fires back at Mbappe in Ballon d’Or row

Ousmane Dembele has hit back at Kylian Mbappe after the Real Madrid forward claimed he was always seen as “the chosen one” compared to his PSG rival. Speaking after Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-0 win over Brest, the reigning Ballon d’Or holder insisted his success came through hard work rather than early hype, saying he had “always been at the back of the class, working hard.”

According to GOAL.com, Mbappe had told France Football that while Dembele was seen as merely talented, he himself was viewed as “the chosen one.” Dembele enters the 2026 Ballon d’Or race as defending champion, with the ceremony set for London on 26 October.