Mbappé Praises Dembélé and Names Messi Best Player Ahead of France vs Iraq

Kylian Mbappé addressed the media ahead of his 100th appearance for France, offering strong support for teammate Ousmane Dembélé and weighing in on the Golden Boot race. Speaking in fluent Spanish, English, and French, Mbappé defended Dembélé against criticism following France's opening match against Senegal, arguing that the winger had been the standout performer among the attacking players in the first half. "The first half he was the best of us four attackers," Mbappé said. "In the second half, Michael [Olise] and I were more decisive, but still, he opened the space for us with his runs, which doesn't show up on the stat sheet." Mbappé noted that Dembélé remained unfazed by the scrutiny, given his status as a Ballon d'Or winner and the confidence placed in him by the squad and coaching staff.

When asked to name the best player among himself, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, and Harry Kane—all competing near the top of the Golden Boot standings—Mbappé unhesitatingly selected Messi. "He showed during 15 years that he has an amazing quality," Mbappé explained, acknowledging Messi's sustained excellence throughout his career. The France striker also hinted at a possible future move to the United States, mentioning that David Beckham has frequently asked him about relocating to America. "One day, maybe! We'll see, we'll see…" he said.

France manager Didier Deschamps remained more guarded in his own press conference, indicating he may rotate the squad for the upcoming match against Iraq but emphasizing that the priority is victory and securing qualification after two group matches. Deschamps also addressed concerns about Dembélé's fitness, having played only 11 games in Ligue 1 this season due to injury issues. The manager stated that those physical concerns are "behind him" and no longer affecting the player's performance.