Ousmane Dembélé, the controversial Ballon d’Or dividing the football world

Football enters a new era, Ousmane Dembélé’s rise to the Ballon d’Or throne has not been without controversy. The Paris Saint-Germain forward claimed the award for the best player in the world in 2025.

However, not everyone is convinced that the Frenchman deserved the honor. Former English international Chris Waddle, a Marseille star in the ’90s, criticized the winger’s inconsistent performances: “Dembélé sometimes dribbles like Messi, but other weeks he looks like a fourth division player. You never know which version of him you’ll get,” he told Boyle Sports.

The 28-year-old Frenchman had an outstanding season with PSG: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Champions League champion, in addition to reaching the Club World Cup final. Impressive stats that still spark debate over whether he was truly the most decisive player on the planet.

The end of Messi and Ronaldo’s reign: an uncertain new era

With Messi playing in the MLS at 38 and Cristiano Ronaldo still active in Saudi Arabia at 40, football has closed an unforgettable chapter. Together, they hold 13 Ballon d’Ors, setting a benchmark for an entire generation.

The new landscape, led by Dembélé and emerging talents like Lamine Yamal and Vitinha, raises a critical question: is there truly a successor on the level of these two giants? Many analysts argue that modern football is fragmented between statistics and style, and the new winners don’t necessarily embody the same overall dominance.

“People are obsessed with stats, but a top scorer isn’t always a great player. Messi and Ronaldo won because they made a difference in everything: goals, play, and leadership,” Waddle explained, questioning whether Dembélé has that same global impact.

Between genius and inconsistency: the Dembélé case

Ousmane Dembélé’s career has been a rollercoaster. Pure talent, but with a reputation for inconsistency that has followed him since his days at Barcelona. In his first full injury-free season in Paris, he recorded 35 goals and 14 assists, earning Champions League Player of the Season.

Still, his unpredictable style divides opinion. Some see his ability to dribble, improvise, and break lines as making him one of the most exciting players today. Others argue that his lack of consistency prevents him from becoming a true leader.

A transitional Ballon d’Or or the start of a new era?

Dembélé’s triumph could mark the beginning of a more unpredictable and less homogeneous generation. With Rodri (2024 winner) and Lamine Yamal emerging as contenders, football seems to be crafting a new narrative after the decline of Messi and Ronaldo.

Dembélé himself, aware of the criticism, said after receiving the award: “I have worked my whole life for this. I’m not perfect, but this year I gave my best version.”

The debate, however, remains open. Is Dembélé the legitimate heir to a golden era, or merely the face of an uncertain transition? Time and his consistency, will be the judge.