Ousmane Dembélé defended French captain Kylian Mbappé, describing the criticism directed at the forward as "very unfair" and "excessive" [1, 2].
The support comes as France prepares for its first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup [3]. The captain's leadership and form have become focal points for media scrutiny following a trophy-less season with Real Madrid [2, 5].
Dembélé spoke out regarding the pressure facing the 27-year-old Mbappé [2]. He said that the public and media response to the captain's recent performances has been disproportionate.
"They've been very unfair to him," Dembélé said [2].
The French squad is currently preparing for its Group I opening match against Senegal, which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 [4, 6]. This match serves as the first major test for the national team in the 2026 tournament [3, 6].
Dembélé said that the intensity of the scrutiny is counterproductive to the team's goals. He said that the environment surrounding the captain should be more supportive as the tournament begins.
"Very, very unfair criticism," Dembélé said [1].
The forward urged a shift in perspective regarding the captain's role and expectations. He said that the current level of negativity is unnecessary for the squad's cohesion.
"We shouldn't be so hard," Dembélé said [7].
“"They've been very unfair to him."”
The public defense of Mbappé by a teammate suggests internal tension between the French national team and the external media narrative. With the captain entering the 2026 World Cup under pressure from a disappointing club season, the squad's ability to shield its leader from psychological fatigue will be critical to their performance in Group I.
