Ballon d’Or: ‘I was the chosen one’ — Mbappé reflects on Dembele’s victory

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PublishedSeptember 12, 2026, 5:34 AM UTC

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has reflected on Ousmane Dembélé winning the Ballon d’Or ahead of him, saying the pair have followed different career paths.

Mbappé and Dembélé were teammates at Paris Saint-Germain, with Mbappé widely regarded as the bigger star during their time together at the French club.

Dembélé eventually claimed the 2025 Ballon d’Or, finishing ahead of Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal.

Speaking to L’Equipe, Mbappé said he does not feel jealous of Dembélé’s achievement, noting that their careers developed in different ways.

“He was always seen as a very talented player, while I was always seen as the chosen one,” Mbappé said.

“I reached the highest level very early in my career.

“His journey was different. He had injuries and difficult moments, but he has made an incredible comeback.”