"He's furious with Mbappé. In his eyes, it's a form of cheating. That word is strong, but that's how he sees it," said former Paris Saint-Germain player Jérôme Rothen on RMC Sport. "And he's not the only one. Everyone around Dembélé, people in the Paris Saint-Germain locker room, are angry with Mbappé," he added.

Similarly, some teammates of the French superstar are also angry about Mbappé's remarks. Rothen said: "Our feelings during the World Cup have been confirmed. Many players have issues with Mbappé's behavior and statements. This is a fact. He has alienated many people in the French team." He also speculated that the team might form "two camps": "I think tensions will rise during the next international break."

Mbappé had previously, in interviews with France Football and L'Équipe, explicitly declared himself a favorite for the Ballon d'Or, calling himself "the chosen one," although he also acknowledged that Dembélé "has always been considered a talented player." "I was at the top from the beginning. He took another path, went through injuries, but he made up for it well," Mbappé said.

After Barcelona's 1-0 victory, Dembélé, who had been relatively quiet in the Ballon d'Or debate, also spoke about the topic, perhaps as a response to Mbappé. "I've always been like this: sitting in the back row of the classroom, working hard to learn," he explained after the away win, then addressed the award: "Since the beginning of my career, I have never said a word on this topic. I have never been 'the chosen one.' I put in an incredible amount of effort. Last year, I was rewarded after a great season. This year, let's wait and see, stay calm, and don't get stressed."

In addition to Mbappé and Dembélé, Spanish World Cup winners Yamal and Rodri are also contenders for the Ballon d'Or, both playing for Barcelona. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich is also a strong contender. Kvaratskhelia is also in the conversation, as his performances have been impressive.

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