Ousmane Dembélé, the 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and France forward, answered questions from BBC Sport in a recently broadcast interview. Among other things, he was asked to name his pick for the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner and to discuss the goal of winning a third consecutive Champions League title. The French international also explained where he has made the most progress.
Dembélé: “As they say, he’s dazzled everyone too.”
The 2026 Ballon d’Or?
Kvaratskhelia is the Ballon d’Or winner! Honestly, he deserves it. He had an exceptional season. As they say, he’s dazzled everyone too.
Would you like to win it yourself?
Winning an individual award like the Ballon d’Or is obviously exceptional.
Dembélé: “We want to keep winning it. That’s what matters most.”
Another Champions League title?
When I signed for PSG, the main goal was to win the Champions League. We’ve won it twice, and we want to keep winning it. That’s what matters most. The memories you leave for the fans and all the people of Paris—that’s the real victory. Just like the moments spent with my teammates.
Dembélé: “My mindset.”
Where have you improved the most?
My mindset. As you get older—at 28—you become much more mature. You improve your game. I’m not the same player I was at 20, back when I was at Dortmund. A lot of things change. You want to score goals and provide assists, but over the years, I’ve focused above all on being effective in everything I do on the pitch. And the most important thing remains helping the team.”
We know the Ballon d’Or stirs up passions and debate, so Dembélé’s choice will undoubtedly spark a wide range of reactions. At the very least, it makes sense for the player voted best in the Champions League to be among the favorites for that prestigious individual trophy. Especially since the World Cup didn’t produce a clear-cut favorite—at least not in terms of spectacular performances. After all, it is worth noting that Fabián Ruiz (the 30-year-old midfielder) won both competitions.
In any case, like Dembélé, we prefer to focus on the collective and the trophies won on the pitch. That is the philosophy of coach Luis Enrique, one that seems to have truly taken hold among his players. Indeed, that is precisely why PSG has been so strong and has managed to progress. That is what will truly go down in history: the images of those European matches and a team achieving something magnificent. And it may not be over yet, as a third consecutive title is now in their sights.
Success will again rely on the collective effort, as well as immense individual talent, of course—including Dembélé, who has truly taken his game to the next level. Many have pointed to his shift to a central role, which certainly plays a part. But above all, it comes down to his mindset, characterized by greater seriousness and effort. He is focusing more on being effective on the pitch rather than attempting spectacular moves that might be less useful. It is a real triumph for coach Luis Enrique, fostering a squad where players genuinely play for the team. Let’s hope this continues.
