Dembele defends Mbappe amid criticism, warns that Messi is 'still quite dangerous'

Just days before France open their World Cup campaign against Senegal, Ousmane Dembele publicly defended captain Kylian Mbappe amid mounting criticism over his conduct and off-field choices.

In recent weeks, Mbappe has found himself at the centre of a storm. Questions over his dedication to the French national team intensified after he and Michael Olise briefly left the training camp for a trip to Spain, where photographs with his partner, actress Ester Expesito, spread rapidly across social media and fuelled fresh controversy.

The scrutiny did not stop there. At club level, the Real Madrid forward has also faced headlines surrounding his behaviour during injury rehabilitation and reports of tensions involving a member of Álvaro Arbeloa's coaching staff.

For many, the spotlight has shifted away from Mbappe the footballer to Mbappe the public figure.

Dembele believes that line has been crossed.

"They've been very unfair to him," the Paris Saint-Germain winger said. "They go a bit overboard with the criticism of Kylian because he's an incredible player. A great person off the field. I've known him for a long time."

He did not stop there.

"They go overboard with the criticism just because it's Kylian Mbappe. You shouldn't be so hard on him."

It was a significant intervention.

At a time when doubts had begun to emerge over Mbappe's place within the squad and whispers of a fractured dressing room gathered momentum, Dembele offered a starkly different picture from inside the French camp.

Whether Mbappe ties his shoelaces, pulls up his socks or simply appears in public, every gesture now seems to invite debate.

"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," Dembele remarked. "Because he's still a human being and a player of exceptional quality."

Those words carried particular weight.

France enter the World Cup not only as one of the favourites but also under the burden of expectation that accompanies a generation blessed with extraordinary talent. In such moments, leadership becomes as important as ability, and Dembele insisted that Mbappe possesses both.

"Here in the French national team, he gets along very well with us," he said. "He's a leader, the captain of our team, and a very important player."

His defence was not merely about protecting a teammate. It was a reminder that modern football's biggest stars often operate under relentless examination, where private moments become public debates and imperfections are amplified far beyond the pitch.

Yet while Dembele sought to shield one superstar from criticism, he reserved enormous praise for another.

Speaking to Marca, the newly crowned Champions League winner turned his attention to Lionel Messi, who stands on the brink of a sixth World Cup appearance and another opportunity to extend a career that has redefined greatness.

"He can win every trophy possible," Dembele said. "I already saw him at Barcelona. Age doesn't change anything. He's the best I've ever seen, the best that football has ever seen."

Having shared a dressing room with Messi at Barcelona, Dembélé's admiration stems from firsthand experience.

"He's still quite dangerous," he added. "It's difficult to stop him even at 38. He may be that age, but he'll always have those qualities. We'll have to be careful with him because he's capable of winning again."

The contrast is striking.

One football icon battles questions over his every move, his humanity sometimes lost beneath the glare of celebrity. Another, nearing the twilight of an extraordinary career, commands universal reverence as the benchmark against which generations are measured.

Dembele's comments ultimately served two purposes.

They were a forceful defence of Mbappe at a moment when France's captain needed support more than silence. And they were an acknowledgement that true greatness deserves recognition, regardless of allegiance.

As the World Cup approaches, France will rely heavily on Mbappé's leadership and brilliance. But Dembele's message was clear: criticism should not eclipse perspective, and admiration should never be withheld from those who have earned football's highest praise.