Ousmane Dembele is currently one of the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or after enjoying a stellar campaign. The Frenchman has surprised many with his performances this season. A player who was once seen as someone who would never be able to reach his true potential has quickly turned the tables and is exceeding all expectations. But how did someone go from a disappointment to one of the best players in the world? Is it just a single change that has facilitated this sudden rise, or is there something more?
Dembele joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. However, his Barcelona stint did not meet expectations. He was constantly injured, lost his form and did not have much impact on the team for the majority of his time there.
The French international scored just 24 LaLiga goals in his six-year tenure at the club. Dembele finally decided to leave Barcelona for a fresh start and joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
One of the major factors behind Dembele’s struggles the LaLiga giants was believed to be his lack of discipline. However, it appears that Dembele has addressed this issue since then. His performances have significantly improved, and his injury troubles have largely subsided. This isn’t all, and there’s another change that has brought a world of difference.
At the start of the year, Luis Enrique shifted Dembele to the number nine role, moving him from the wing. The result? The 28-year-old has mesmerised the fans with his phenomenal performances these last few months. He has scored 25 goals and provided five assists since the beginning of 2025, making him the player with the highest number of goal involvements in 2025.
Dembele has been instrumental in PSG’s success this season. The Champions League trophy is the only missing piece in an already great season for the Frenchman. Winning it would further cement his claim for the Ballon d'Or, something that would have seemed like an unrealistic dream even a few years back.
Image credit - Paris Saint-Germain Football Club