Kylian Mbappé has denied that a rift exists between himself and France teammate Ousmane Dembélé as both players prepare to compete for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

The speculation followed comments Mbappé made in an interview with France Football about the different paths the two forwards had taken. Mbappé said Dembélé had long been viewed as a talented player, while he had been regarded as “the chosen one” and had reached the top at an early age. He also noted that Dembélé had faced injuries but had made up for lost time.

Dembélé appeared to respond after Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Brest, saying he had never been “the chosen one” and had instead worked hard throughout his career. He added that he had been rewarded for an outstanding season with PSG and would approach the current Ballon d’Or race without pressure.

Mbappé has now played down any suggestion that the comments caused a dispute. Speaking to L’Équipe, he said he had already discussed the matter with Dembélé.

“I’ve already spoken to him about it, and there’s no tension,” Mbappé said. “He’s a friend. I don’t think there’s really any problem regarding that. I’m very relaxed about it.”

The two forwards remain among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or. Dembélé won last year’s award after a standout campaign with PSG, while Mbappé is again in contention after a prolific season with Real Madrid and France. Their competing claims have intensified media attention, but there is no confirmed evidence of a breakdown in their relationship.