June 12, 2026
Kylian Mbappe
France forward Ousmane Dembele has come to the defence of captain Kylian Mbappe ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting criticism of the Real Madrid star has become excessive and unfair.
Mbappe heads into the tournament under intense scrutiny following another trophyless season with Real Madrid, where the Spanish giants failed to win either La Liga or the UEFA Champions League.
The France captain is expected to lead Les Bleus when they begin their World Cup campaign against Senegal next week, but questions over his performances and leadership have continued to dominate headlines in both Spain and France.
