Dembélé responds to Mbappé: I was never the chosen one

Ousmane Dembélé, the Paris Saint-Germain forward, has spoken about the race for the Ballon d'Or in 2026, confirming that he prefers to continue working away from pressure. This comes after his team's victory over Brest by a goal to nil in the 4th round of Ligue 1.

Dembélé has spoken about his work ethic in an interview with Ligue 1+: "I have always been like this, sitting at the back and working hard. Throughout my career, I haven't said a word, but I have worked a lot and very hard. As I said, I have never been the chosen one, but I have worked a lot."

The French star added: "Last year I was rewarded for a great season with Paris Saint-Germain, but this year we will see what happens. Without pressure, and calmly."

Ousmane Dembélé's comments come days after Kylian Mbappé discussed the Ballon d'Or race, where the Real Madrid forward considered himself among the top contenders for the award, saying in an interview with "France Football": "I have always been considered the chosen one." Dembélé's response confirmed his different approach, as he prefers to let his level and achievements speak for themselves rather than entering a race of statements.