Kylian Mbappe has leaped to the defense of Ousmane Dembele, branding the winger crucial for France’s World Cup campaign ahead of their Iraq clash.
Speaking to the media ahead of France’s second World Cup fixture against Iraq, the Les Bleus captain urged critics to look beyond basic statistics.
Mbappe revealed he re-watched their opening match twice and concluded that Dembele was actually France’s most dangerous attacker during the first half.
While Mbappe and Michael Olise took the headlines later in the game, the Real Madrid forward emphasized Dembele’s tactical intelligence, noting how he cleverly dragged defenders away to create the space needed for their opening goal.
Reaffirming the squad’s total belief in the current Ballon d’Or holder, Mbappe insisted Dembele remains relaxed and is poised to bounce back immediately.
France’s next match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is against Iraq on Monday, June 22, 2026, scheduled to kick off at 9:00pm GMT.
