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Dembele had an explosive 2024/25 season. |
But for Ousmane Dembele, that was not enough. Not because he was bad all season, but because when he needed to shine most – on the biggest stage – he disappeared. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final on 14 July, where PSG completely collapsed against Chelsea, became the slip that could ruin a great campaign.
Dembele is not alone in PSG's downfall, but as the club's biggest star - the man expected to win his first Ballon d'Or - he has shouldered more weight than anyone else. And he has failed to respond.
From the heights of the Champions League...
Dembele was the embodiment of a PSG side that played some of the most fiery, incisive and effective football in Europe. After helping the Parisian club win their first Champions League title in history - with outstanding performances against Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Inter Milan - and then the FIFA Club World Cup against Bayern and Real Madrid - the Frenchman was on the verge of winning football's most prestigious individual award.
The semi-final against Real Madrid was a masterpiece for the French striker. He pressed relentlessly, scored goals, created assists, and tore apart the Los Blancos defence. The former Barcelona star was a fire that burned down every defence.
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But in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final, Dembele looked lackluster. |
But football, like all living arts, has no long-term memory. The final against Chelsea should have been the final straw. An exclamation point on a season to remember. But Dembele left a void – both in his playing style and in his spirit.
Barely making a difference, lost in Chelsea's tight system, and even making mistakes that led to goals. L'Équipe gave him a 2 - cold and ruthless, as the French often do when faced with high expectations. Le Parisien gave him a slightly better 3, but still called him "uninspired."
To be fair, Dembele is not the only one who has faltered. PSG were stifled by Chelsea in midfield, overwhelmed by Cole Palmer’s pace and improvisation. But it is in moments like these that you expect a superstar to make the difference. And when Dembele fails to do so, all the spotlight is on him – the man with the dream of individual glory on his shoulders.
Ballon d'Or question - hope or illusion?
Dembele has had a great season, there’s no denying that. But the Ballon d’Or isn’t a prize for players or “many laps ago,” it’s a long-distance race where every decisive moment carries enormous weight.
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Dembele could lose the Ballon d'Or. |
In the Nations League, Dembele was injured and overshadowed against Spain. At the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, he was invisible in the final match. These two blemishes, though small, could be enough to tip the balance.
Cole Palmer - MVP of the final in the US - stood out at the right time, while Dembele was left in the dark. The international press, who decide the winner of the Ballon d'Or, will certainly take that into consideration. Especially with the award ceremony just over two months away.
Dembele once touched the top of Olympus of football – referring to the Champions League, where Messi, Ronaldo and Modric once reigned. But to truly step into that legendary temple, he needed more than just an excellent season – the French striker needed an unforgettable final. And unfortunately, all he left behind was a quiet evening, under the bright lights of the MetLife stage, where Cole Palmer became the scriptwriter.
History may well remember Dembele's 2024/25 campaign as one of PSG's best individual seasons. But is that enough? Does a player who is great for 90 per cent of the season, but off in the remaining 10 per cent - the most important part - deserve the Ballon d'Or?
The answer will be revealed on the night of September 22 at the Châtelet Theatre. But perhaps, Dembélé himself has also felt that: to become the world's number 1, you need not only talent and form - but also knowing how to shine at the right time.
Source: https://znews.vn/dembele-gan-vang-xa-vinh-quang-post1568904.html
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