September 22 will be remembered as the night Ousmane Dembélé reached the summit of world football. But what has truly stunned Europe isn’t just his coronation as the planet’s best player — it’s the calm, almost matter-of-fact way the PSG star experienced the entire process. No nerves, no doubt… and total certainty that the Ballon d’Or already had an owner before the envelope was opened.

In an interview with GQ, the Frenchman revealed he never felt pressure in the days leading up to the gala hosted by France Football. In fact, he said he had known for weeks that the award was his.

“I didn’t think about anything because I knew I was going to win,” he admitted — a line that has sparked all kinds of reactions across the continent.

The Moment He Believed the Ballon d’Or Was His

Dembélé said there was a turning point that convinced him completely:
the UEFA Super Cup on August 13, when PSG defeated Tottenham in a penalty shootout.

That night — the season’s first major final — served as confirmation that his year had been special and decisive. From that moment on, his confidence skyrocketed. He felt the Ballon d’Or was simply the logical reward for his performances and influence at PSG.

A Gala Lived With Calm… Until the Final Minutes

He also described how he experienced the ceremony itself.
Arriving with teammates João Neves and Désiré Doué, Dembélé was literally watching PSG vs. Marseille on the way to the event — and even during the gala’s early moments.

His mindset was pure tranquility:

“We were quite focused on the match. Even on the red carpet, I stayed calm.”

Still, that serenity cracked ever so slightly when the ceremony officially began.
With cameras rolling and lights blazing, he admitted to feeling a small tremor:

“Only when the ceremony started did I begin to feel a bit of pressure. I was a little stressed.”

A Confession That Sets a New Tone

Dembélé’s blunt, confident retelling — self-assured, competitive, and free of the usual clichés — has stirred debate across Europe. For some, it reflects absolute trust in his own performances; for others, it’s the mentality that shaped a champion and allowed him to dominate the season.

What’s undeniable is that Dembélé now carries himself like someone who has already claimed football’s most prestigious individual award… and who genuinely believes it won’t be the last.