France’s Ousmane Dembélé has publicly defended teammate and captain Kylian Mbappé against what he considers excessive and unjust criticism. Dembélé’s statement comes as the team prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He did not specify the nature of the criticism prompting his response, but implied it has reached an unreasonable level. The forward’s comments signal a protective stance towards Mbappé, who recently transferred to Real Madrid. This support aims to shield the star player from external pressures as the World Cup approaches. Dembélé’s intervention highlights the importance of team unity and morale in the face of public scrutiny. The statement was reported by Vanguard News.