Dembélé’s Surprising Response When Asked About the Ballon d’Or

The PSG winger puts the team first in what could be a historic season, days before his first Champions League final.

Ousmane Dembélé is living one of the biggest moments of his career. With 33 goals and 13 assists this season, the Paris Saint-Germain forward is heading into his first-ever Champions League final as one of the key figures of the squad. However, when asked about the Ballon d’Or, his answer caught everyone off guard: “When you play for PSG, there are more important things than individual awards.”

“The Entire Club Is Hungry”

With the countdown ticking toward May 31—when PSG will face Inter Milan in Munich—the club held a media day at its training center. Speaking to the press, Dembélé appeared calm and focused: “It’s my first Champions League final, and I want to enjoy it. The entire club is hungry for this victory.”

Despite the high stakes, the French international emphasized that nothing has changed in their preparation: “We don’t change our habits. Whether it’s a league match or a final, we approach it the same way.” He also stressed the importance of the Coupe de France final against Reims before thinking about Europe: “We want to win every trophy, not just one.”

A Leader On and Off the Pitch

At 27, Dembélé is now one of the veterans in the PSG dressing room. “The coach asked me from the beginning to lead by example for the younger players. I’m not their mentor, but I give advice when needed,” he said. His experience at Barcelona, with the French national team, and now in Paris has made him a locker room reference.

Looking ahead to the clash against Inter, Dembélé admitted that the final will also be special because he’ll face one of his best friends: Marcus Thuram. “We talk every day. I already told him—this final will be won by one of us. It’s amazing we’re meeting on this stage.”

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Ligue 1

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As for the Ballon d’Or speculation, Dembélé made his priorities clear: “People joke with me about it all the time, but seriously, before I think about myself, I think about the team. PSG has never won the Champions League, and that’s what really matters.”

With all of France watching, Ousmane Dembélé is focused on making history—not as an individual, but as part of a team chasing the ultimate prize in European football.