Living long enough to witness Dembele win the Ballon d'Or!

We all know how quickly football can change. Yet, Ousmane Dembele’s transformation journey remains extraordinary.

A year ago, Ousmane Dembele seemed destined to become a “wasted talent,” labeled as France’s “bad boy” of football. From a disappointing blockbuster signing at Barcelona, he appeared likely to be discarded and sent to PSG.

However, in the early hours of September 23, with the shining Ballon d'Or in hand, no one disputed Dembele’s status as the world’s best player. He was the standout star in a magnificent team that made all of Europe bow with their convincing Champions League victory, defeating all four Premier League representatives on their way to the title. So much so that Liverpool’s coach Arne Slot publicly urged record signing Alexander Isak to learn from Dembele.

Ironically, PSG was busy playing a rescheduled match against Marseille (losing 0-1) and couldn’t celebrate with their hero at the Châtelet Theatre in Paris. But it was Dembele’s dedication to Luis Enrique’s style, along with his goals and brilliant moments, that elevated him to a new level.

He knows how to appear at the right place and time, like at Anfield, dropping deep to start plays then finishing himself against Arsenal at the Emirates, or constantly troubling Inter Milan’s defense in Munich. His stats of 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 games last season are a powerful testament to his incredible transformation.

Notably, only in August 2023, PSG bought him for £43.3 million, a figure reflecting his diminished value after injury spells and inconsistent form at Barca. In 185 appearances for the Catalan club, Dembele scored just 40 goals, hitting double digits only twice. His attitude was often criticized. In his first season at Paris, Luis Enrique even dropped him from a match against Arsenal for “disrespecting teammates.” That harshness sparked his change: Enrique moved him to center forward, unveiling a completely different Dembele.

Dembele himself admitted: “I’ve changed a lot, especially in my position and playing style. Now I play closer to goal, giving me more chances to score. It’s still my natural skill, but I know how to use it more effectively.”

This statement was confirmed by Slot who pointed out: “I am impressed not only by PSG’s goals but also by their pressing style. Ousmane Dembele is a perfect example of this play. I want Isak to learn from him.”

“Live long enough to see Dembele win the Ballon d'Or” — a phrase once thought a joke, now a reality. Once a “flop” at Barcelona, mostly sidelined by injuries, Dembele rewrote his destiny with a spectacular transformation to become the world’s best player.

This Ballon d'Or award not only confirms his strong comeback but also places Dembele among legends like Messi, as he joins the exclusive group holding all three prestigious titles: FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and Ballon d'Or. Before him, only icons such as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Zinedine Zidane, Bobby Charlton, Paolo Rossi, Rivaldo, Kaka, and Ronaldinho had achieved this “great trio.”

2025 Ballon d'Or Voting Results (Men)

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