Ballon d'Or 2026: Mbappé and Dembélé's warm reunion at London ceremony

Mbappé and Dembélé reconciled at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London after weeks of public tension over the award.

Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé put aside recent friction at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony at London Palladium on Sunday. The two France stars had exchanged barbs in recent weeks amid speculation over who would win the award, with Dembélé—the 2025 winner—taking a dig at Mbappé's self-proclaimed status as "the chosen one."

The pair first reconnected during France's Nations League campaign under Zinedine Zidane, though Mbappé departed early with a left knee injury sustained in the opening match against Turkey. At the ceremony, they greeted each other warmly with a genuine embrace upon arrival, then exchanged words with smiles before sitting in the same section of the hall, separated only by Michael Olise.