Mbappé, injured by the second place, avoids Dembélé in London
Yesterday in London, Kylian Mbappé left the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony feeling a deep disappointment, relegated to second place behind Harry Kane, while he deliberately avoided Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 incumbent winner, and briefly greeted Élie Junior Kroupi, the captain of the French national team.
Tensions in London
Ousmane Dembélé, crowned Ballon d’Or in 2025, travelled to London yesterday to attend the ceremony and defend his status as defending champion, but his presence remained low-key. The player was spotted in the theatre corridors without crossing paths with Mbappé, according to L’Équipe.
Upon arriving, Mbappé took the time to greet Élie Junior Kroupi, a Bournemouth player represented by the same agent as several profiles likely to interest PSG. This meeting was noted as a sign of possible interest from the Parisian club.
L’Équipe confirms that Dembélé did not actually have the chance to cross paths with Mbappé before the ceremony; the Frenchman arrived later and did not walk through the theatre’s salons, thus limiting the possibilities of a reunion between the two men. This sequence reignites questions about their relationship, presented as fresh, without however proving a deliberate altercation.
Ballon d’Or 2026 sees Ousmane Dembélé criticised by PSG
Analysis of the disappointment
Mbappé’s second place, beaten by Harry Kane in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparked numerous comments. The headline also mentions Real Madrid, although the club is not involved in the described events.
Dave Appadoo, journalist at L’Équipe, believes the disappointment could be particularly hard for the young striker to swallow, « I got the impression that he was the one for whom the blow was the most violent ». He notes that Mbappé has regularly been presented as a future Ballon d’Or since his teenage years.
« In the end, he will reach 28 years old without a Ballon d’Or. I got the impression that he had played his all‑or‑nothing a bit this year », Appadoo continues, highlighting the pressure on the player. He adds that the moment when Ronaldo opened the envelope seemed « something that fell on Kylian Mbappé ».
The suspense of the 2026 Ballon d’Or shakes Real Madrid
The journalist concludes that the ceremony represents a difficult moment to digest for the captain of Les Bleus, and it remains to be seen whether this disillusionment will influence the rest of his season or if questions surrounding his relationship with Dembélé will continue to fuel the news.