On Saturday, Luis Enrique’s men scripted history by becoming only the second French club to win the Champions League trophy. Every individual played their part in the final, evident from their dominant 5-0 win over Inter Milan.
With this victory, Ousmane Dembele has further solidified his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or. He has now won four trophies this season. He was also awarded the Best Player of the Season by UEFA, which will be a major advantage for him heading into the Ballon d'Or race.
Dembele has already proven his attacking prowess this campaign. However, PSG manager Enrique has highlighted another aspect of Dembélé’s game that isn’t talked about much.
Following Saturday’s victory, Enrique was asked by beIN Sports about his choice for the Ballon d'Or award. The Spaniard replied:
"Everyone is concerned about who I would give the Ballon d'Or to. I would give the Ballon d'Or to Ousmane Dembele for the way he defended in this final. That's what you call leading a team. I sincerely believe he deserves the Ballon d'Or, without a doubt, not just for the titles he won or the goals he scored, but for his pressing. He's done it all season, but exceptionally in this final."
In the Champions League final, although Dembele was not on the scoresheet, he did provide two assists and showcased relentless defensive effort, pressing Inter Milan’s backline from the first whistle. Inter couldn’t find their rhythm due to the high pressing, and as a result, PSG scored two goals in under 20 minutes.
Whether Ousmane Dembele will go on to win the Ballon d'Or remains to be seen, but his case has never been stronger. With four major trophies, standout performances, and the backing of his coach, he’s currently the favourite to win the award. If he does win, he would become the first French Ligue 1 player to claim the award since Jean-Pierre Papin in 1991. In this campaign full of historic moments is another history on the cards?
Image credit - Paris Saint-Germain Football Club