Laporta was right about Dembele and Mbappe

Barcelona president Joan Laporta's comments in 2022 have resurfaced after Dembele won his first Ballon d'Or.

Laporta's statement, once ridiculed, is now seen in a different light as Dembélé wins the Ballon d'Or.

In a statement to Mundo Deportivo in 2022, then-president Laporta asserted that Ousmane Dembele was superior to Kylian Mbappe. The Barcelona chief commented: “I have always thought that Dembele is better than Mbappe.”

"I don't regret what I did, or comment on him (Dembele). Because it's clear that Ousmane has talent. We were convinced by his talent," Laporta affirmed.

This statement was made by Laporta in the context of Dembele causing a lot of controversy at that time. The French striker was about to expire his contract and was rumored to leave the La Liga club. The player's injuries and inconsistent performance at Camp Nou made him a target of hatred for many Barcelona fans.

At that time, Mbappe was considered one of the world's top talents, causing Laporta's statement to cause great controversy among the media and fans. In the end, the following developments partly proved Laporta's belief.

Dembele, after leaving Barcelona to join PSG in 2023, exploded with 35 goals and 16 assists in the 2024/25 season, helping PSG win a historic treble, including the first Champions League title.

This achievement brought him to the 2025 Golden Ball, surpassing Mbappe - who only ranked 7th in the nomination list this year, despite moving to Real Madrid and scoring 32 goals last season.

Source: https://znews.vn/laporta-da-dung-ve-dembele-va-mbappe-post1587480.html