Cabin BLV: Dembele still has a long journey ahead to strive for excellence

24/09/2025 20:37:00 PlaymakerHub

Ousmane Dembele winning the Ballon d'Or is a testament to a player rising above career challenges. However, the PSG forward still faces a lengthy path to earn the highest recognition.

1. Debates broke out after Dembele was named Ballon d'Or winner despite his successful season with PSG, where he helped secure a historic treble including their first-ever Champions League victory, with his contribution being far from minor. Some believe the award should have gone to Lamine Yamal, who shone brightly for Barcelona, even though Hansi Flick’s team wasn’t the Champions League champion last season. Yamal is a true star with world-class performances that surpass his young age. He performed excellently in crucial matches, and Barcelona’s semifinal defeat to Inter Milan does not entirely negate the abilities of this 18-year-old player.

Yamal’s current challenge is his youth and the vast potential he holds to claim the Ballon d'Or in the future. Moreover, he has won the Best Young Player award two years in a row, and many anticipate even more convincing displays from him in the coming years. Conversely, Dembele’s move to PSG resembles a transformation from an awkward duckling into a dazzling swan. After disappointing seasons at Barcelona, he proved himself as the key figure at Parc des Princes under Luis Enrique, who constructed a team no longer centered around stars like Kylian Mbappe.

Dembele becoming the new Ballon d'Or winner will inspire many players aiming to overcome hardships and shine in a new environment. This is crucial because the award is no longer dominated solely by veteran stars like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. It has opened up to new winners such as Man City midfielder Rodri last year, and this year Dembele, who seemed unlikely to reach star status but reinvented himself at PSG.

The Ballon d'Or award for Dembele has sparked mixed reactions

2. Dembele is the sixth French player to win the Ballon d'Or after Kopa, Platini, Papin, Zidane, and Benzema. However, compared to these predecessors, the way Dembele earned this title has not been universally convincing. Some even argue that the 1997-born forward’s influence is significantly less than that of Platini, Papin, Zidane, or Benzema.

In my personal view, this opinion is quite valid. Ballon d'Or winners like Platini and Zidane were the playmakers of their teams and amassed numerous honors from club to international level, while forwards like Papin and Benzema played leading roles as top scorers. Dembele, at this point, is not the main striker for the French national team—that role belongs to Kylian Mbappe. It would not be an exaggeration to say Dembele’s Ballon d'Or win is heavily influenced by PSG’s outstanding achievements rather than him being a game-changing star. In fact, when discussing PSG’s success, many mention the impact of Vitinha or Kvaratskhelia more than Dembele.

Dembele’s Ballon d'Or victory serves as a huge morale boost for a player who nearly saw his career fade after several unsuccessful seasons at Barcelona. On the other hand, he still has a long way to go to prove he is truly a star. His upcoming performances at PSG and, further ahead, with France at the 2026 World Cup will be the best measures to verify the abilities of this year’s new Ballon d'Or winner.

Comment (0)