'He's been criticised and mocked!' - Kylian Mbappe thrilled for close friend Ousmane Dembele after 'reaching maturity at 27' with sensational PSG season

Before his resurgence in Ligue 1, Dembele endured a tough period at Barcelona. After a breakout season at Borussia Dortmund, he arrived in Catalonia in 2017 with high expectations, viewed as the perfect successor to Neymar. Nonetheless, his time with the Blaugrana was marred by frequent injuries and inconsistent performances.

However, his return to French football, coupled with Luis Enrique's arrival as PSG manager, has provided a fresh start. Dembele has found his rhythm in Paris, racking up 30 goals in 37 matches this season - 22 of those goals coming in 2025 alone. His resurgence has made him a vital part of PSG’s attacking force as the Parisians are looking to win the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Mbappe, who has shared the pitch with Dembele at both club and international level, is overjoyed to see his friend proving his doubters wrong. Speaking to Le Parisien, the Real Madrid star expressed his delight and said: "Seeing him do this moves me personally because I know how much he's been criticised and mocked. I've been his biggest supporter since we were 14. I've always said, even when he wasn't scoring, that he was one of the best players in the world. Some thought I was just saying that because I liked him. But I know the difference between friendship and reality on the pitch."

Many expected Dembele to reach his full potential earlier in his career, but Mbappe believes his current success is part of a natural progression.

"Ousmane reached maturity at 27, which is normal in football," Mbappe insisted. "There are players who are more precocious, so some might have thought he was arriving late. But no, Ousmane Dembele has never arrived late; it's the normal evolution of a footballer, who reaches his full potential at 27. He still has great years ahead of him. I'm very happy for him and I hope he continues like this. He deserves what he's getting; he's worked hard for it."

While Dembele has been a standout performer at PSG, Mbappe hopes his friend can carry this momentum into the 2026 FIFA World Cup where Les Bleus will be looking to regain their global crown from Argentina.

"I hope he continues at the same pace with the French national team until 2026, so we can be world champions," he stated.

Mbappe and Dembele will reunite with Les Bleus during the March international window as France are set to play Croatia in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.