Ousmane Dembélé for most of his career was known more for dazzling dribbles than ruthless finishing. Goals came second and he admitted as much.
Back in 2023, when asked about his modest scoring record, the Paris Saint-Germain forward shrugged: “I sleep very well at night. I still have confidence in myself.”
Two years earlier, he had described how he wanted to be remembered: not as a prolific scorer, but as “a dribbler who was great to watch.” His statistics supported that image: no more than 14 goals in a single season, with his last double-digit league tally coming during his Rennes breakthrough in 2015-16.
Then everything changed.
Watch the moment Ousmane Dembélé was officially crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner in Paris:
A New Role, A New Dembélé
Midway through last season, PSG head coach Luis Enrique shifted Dembélé into a false nine role to fill the void left by Kylian Mbappé’s departure to Real Madrid. What followed was extraordinary: 27 goals in just 22 matches through winter and spring.
By season’s end, Dembélé had scored 35 times nearly matching his entire six-year output at Barcelona while leading PSG to a historic quadruple and a Club World Cup runners-up finish.
That momentum carried him to Paris on Monday night, where he became the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner. At 28, he joined the elite list of French legends: Kopa, Platini, Papin, Zidane, Benzema and became the first to claim the prize while playing for a French club since Papin in 1991.
Luis Enrique’s Gamble
Luis Enrique wanted collective scoring to replace Mbappé’s goals, but when injuries struck Gonçalo Ramos and others failed to shine, he turned to Dembélé.
At first, nothing clicked. Dembélé was inconsistent, even sent off in a costly Champions League loss to Bayern. Benched for weeks, his career looked to be stalling again.
Then came December 15, against Lyon. Deployed centrally, Dembélé struck early and never looked back. The “machine was launched,” as they say in France.
From Dribbler to Finisher
Dembélé’s scoring spree included tap-ins, instinctive finishes, and clever movement - a far cry from his trademark solo goals. He admitted he had learned to be more clinical: “Before, I had to beat three or four players. Now, as a No. 9, sometimes it’s just a simple touch into the net.”
His video work, shooting practice, and natural two-footed ability turned him into PSG’s sharpest weapon. Consecutive hat-tricks, braces against top rivals, and decisive Champions League goals against Liverpool and Arsenal made him unstoppable.
A Team Player at Last
What made this version of Dembélé stand out was not just goals, but responsibility. He pressed high, worked defensively, and became a leader by example. Luis Enrique told him early: “You are the first defender in this team.”
His teammates responded. Désiré Doué called him a “big brother,” Vitinha labeled him a “leader,” and João Neves praised his personality: “Fun, friendly, always in a good mood… and a world-class superstar.”
Why He Won the 2025 Ballon d’Or
While rivals like Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, Mbappé, and Haaland impressed, none matched Dembélé’s mix of club success and personal transformation. PSG were Europe’s standout team, and he was their driving force.
At Rennes, he was the unpredictable prodigy. At Dortmund, the rebel. At Barcelona, the fragile talent who struggled under pressure. But at PSG, he finally became complete: a disciplined leader, a clinical finisher, and now, the best footballer in the world.
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