France forward Ousmane Dembele says criticism of his national team captain Kylian Mbappe has “gone too far.” Multiple outlets report that Dembele made the remarks as the team looks ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defending Mbappe’s position and responding to what he describes as excessive, unfair scrutiny.
Sources note that Mbappe, who plays for Real Madrid, faced criticism from some quarters late in the most recent season. Dembele says he is “baffled” by the negative attention and argues that the level of critique has become disproportionate. The coverage is consistent across outlets: Dembele is not disputing that criticism exists, but is arguing that it has crossed a line and is no longer constructive.
Overall, the reports focus on Dembele’s public comments and the context of Mbappe’s form and treatment at club level, with the defence framed around Mbappe’s role as France’s captain and the team’s upcoming international tournament.
