Dembélé targets "traitors" on Instagram as Mbappé feud intensifies a year after Ballon d'Or win

A year after winning the Ballon d’Or on 22 September 2025, Ousmane Dembélé marked the anniversary with an Instagram story that immediately set social media ablaze. The Paris Saint-Germain forward appeared in the image holding the trophy, surrounded by loved ones in Ivry-sur-Seine, set to music from rapper Ninho.

The caption accompanying the photo struck a measured and dignified tone: “A year has passed… pride remains unshaken, the memory eternal. Pride in seeing my name written forever in football history.” Balanced words, but the musical choice was what caught attention.

Dembélé added a clip from Ninho’s track “Au 33e”, and the selected lyrics did not go unnoticed: “Expand the empire, despite a crowd of traitors cursing us.” For many observers, the allusion to “traitors” represents a barely veiled criticism directed at Kylian Mbappé, whose recent comments about the Ballon d’Or sparked the first public clash between the two men.

The France captain had stated: “I was always seen as a talented player. As for me, I was always seen as the chosen one.” A remark that forced Dembélé to respond directly: “I was never the chosen one, but I worked hard and last year I was crowned with an award for an outstanding year with Paris Saint-Germain.”

The season that culminated in the Ballon d’Or award saw Paris Saint-Germain win the UEFA Champions League and featured remarkable individual statistics. Since then, the former teammates appear to be maintaining a very cold relationship, and Dembélé’s story adds fuel to a rivalry that has now extended beyond the pitch.