It’s been a rollercoaster year for Ousmane Dembele.
Less than a year ago, PSG manager Luis Enrique made the bold decision to leave the French forward behind for a Champions League trip to Arsenal, following a tense fallout between the two.
At the time, Enrique was clear about his expectations: players who didn’t respect the team’s rules wouldn’t get to play.
“Future opportunities may include Ousmane, but only if he aligns with the team,” Enrique told reporters in London.
That temporary snub, however, would spark a turning point in Dembele’s career.
Turning Point at the Emirates Dembele Scores in Champions League Semi-Final
Fast forward to April, PSG returned to the Emirates Stadium, this time for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
Dembele, now positioned as a false nine, scored the only goal of the match.
It was a statement moment for the 28-year-old, who would go on to finish the 2024-25 season with an astonishing 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 matches, helping PSG secure the treble—including their very first Champions League title.
Even on nights when he didn’t score, Enrique was effusive in his praise.
After PSG’s 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich, he declared, “I’d give the Ballon d’Or to Mr Ousmane Dembele.
The way he defends, leads, and presses—this is how you drive a team forward.”
From Normandy to Paris Dembele’s Journey to the Pinnacle
Born in Vernon, Normandy, to a Mauritanian-Senegalese mother and Malian father, Dembele’s path to football’s highest honor was long and winding. He began at Rennes, then turned down Premier League offers to join Borussia Dortmund at 19.
His talent caught the eye of Barcelona, who signed him for a staggering £135.5 million in 2017, making him the second-most expensive player in the world at the time.
Despite the hype, injuries and disciplinary concerns at Barcelona hindered his rise.
By 2023, PSG snapped him up for £43.5 million—a bargain for a player still brimming with potential.
His friendship with Kylian Mbappe initially helped him settle, and after Mbappe’s departure in 2024, Dembele emerged as the team’s undisputed star.
Enrique’s Influence and the Shift to No 9
French football expert Julien Laurens believes Enrique’s approach was critical to Dembele’s transformation.
“Being left out against Arsenal was a wake-up call. It forced him to understand what Enrique demanded,” Laurens explains.
The other game-changing move was shifting Dembele from winger to central striker.
While many early coaches saw him as a natural number nine, his speed and technical skill often pushed him wide.
Enrique’s decision to place him at the heart of the attack reshaped PSG and unleashed Dembele’s full potential.
Discipline Off the Pitch Dembele Matures Into a Complete Professional
Those close to Dembele say he has finally learned to pair his raw talent with professionalism.
During his Barcelona days, he was notorious for late-night gaming and poor discipline. Fourteen muscle injuries kept him off the pitch for over two years, but a renewed focus on diet, training, and recovery has changed everything.
Marriage and fatherhood in 2021 were pivotal moments.
“It made him realize that success requires responsibility and discipline off the pitch,” a source explains.
PSG’s structured environment allowed Dembele to mature and thrive, culminating in his historic Ballon d’Or win.
Recognition and Legacy Dembele Joins the Greats of French Football
At the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Dembele became the sixth Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or, joining legends like Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Karim Benzema.
Enrique celebrated in his own way, breaking into song: “Ousmane, Ballon d’Or!” Meanwhile, streets in Paris now showcase PSG shirts with Dembele’s name rather than Neymar’s or Mbappe’s.
Football journalist Ben Lyttleton calls the combination of Enrique’s guidance, Mbappe’s departure, and PSG’s tactical setup a “perfect storm,” one that enabled Dembele to finally fulfill his immense potential.
A Career Defined by Belief Perseverance Pays Off
For years, critics questioned whether Dembele could ever reach the heights his talent promised.
Even being substituted before half-time in the 2022 World Cup Final didn’t shake his resolve.
His motto, “Believe,” now resonates as more than a catchphrase—it defines his journey from a mercurial young talent to a mature champion.
With a Ballon d’Or in hand, Champions League glory, and domestic titles in his trophy cabinet, Ousmane Dembele has completed his transformation, cementing his place among football’s elite.