Ousmane Dembélé: From Late Bloomer to Ballon d'Or Front-Runner
Let’s talk about something pretty extraordinary happening in football right now — the transformation of Ousmane Dembélé. If you told someone a few years ago that Dembélé would become the centerpiece of the best team in world football, they might’ve raised an eyebrow. After all, this is the same player once infamous for showing up late, plagued by injuries, and underwhelming performances at Barcelona. But fast forward to 2025, and he’s not just showing up on time — he’s setting the tempo.
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Dembélé’s journey with Paris Saint-Germain has been nothing short of remarkable. Once a mercurial winger known more for what he could be rather than what he was , he’s now the driving force in a PSG team that’s on the brink of completing one of the most dominant seasons in football history. We’re talking domestic treble, Champions League, and now possibly the Club World Cup. And right at the center of all that? Dembélé, wearing the No. 10 and pressing like a man possessed.
What makes this turnaround so captivating isn’t just the stats — though 35 goals and 16 assists speak volumes. It’s the way he’s doing it. Luis Enrique, his manager, calls him the best player this season “by far.” Not for flashy tricks or viral goals, but for his relentless work ethic, especially in the press. He’s now a false nine with freedom and focus, terrorizing defenders with intelligence and intensity.
There’s a photo of Dembélé before a goal against Inter Milan — coiled like a spring, eyes locked, toes on the line. That moment captures everything: discipline, hunger, clarity. The guy once joked about being “blackmailed” over contract negotiations is now leading the charge, pressing goalkeepers and center-backs with such aggression that it’s become contagious across the PSG squad.
Luis Enrique deserves credit here too. He saw something in Dembélé that others doubted — a leader who leads through action, not words. Even when others were skeptical about his work rate or focus, Enrique defended him. He pushed him, but he also trusted him. That mutual belief has sparked something powerful. Now, instead of coming last to training, Dembélé’s the first on the pitch and the first into every challenge.
We often say you don’t buy Ballon d’Or winners — you build them. And PSG, with Luis Enrique pulling the strings, may have just built one from the most unlikely raw material: a misunderstood talent who finally figured out how to marry his gifts with purpose. This isn’t just Dembélé’s comeback — it’s his arrival.
And if he lifts that golden ball later this year? It won’t be a surprise. It’ll be the culmination of a journey that was always waiting to happen.
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