Karim Benzema, former Real Madrid star, praised Ousmane Dembélé’s (28 years old) exceptional season with Paris Saint-Germain. In an interview with L’Equipe, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner believes the French winger is “under-recognized” despite a level of play that, in his opinion, is unprecedented.
Benzema: “We don’t talk about him enough, in my opinion.”
“Ousmane Dembélé, we’re talking about a guy who won the Ballon d’Or. And we don’t talk about him enough, in my opinion. Because what he did at PSG was unprecedented. I think we don’t give him enough attention. Because he’s the best player in the world, actually.”
Benzema: “I really like this player.”
And we don’t highlight the season he had enough. Because he’s come a long way. He had a lot of injuries, his time at Barça… He wasn’t necessarily the kind of guy you’d say one day, “Maybe he’ll win the Ballon d’Or…” He was far from it. But, ultimately, he proved the opposite. So I really like this player.”
Karim Benzema’s words resonate as a clarification: Ousmane Dembélé, often analyzed through the lens of his past injuries or his inconsistency at Barcelona, has completely transformed since arriving at Paris Saint-Germain. The 27-year-old winger has exploded onto the scene with a volume of play, responsibility, and creativity rarely seen in a player of his profile.
Benzema emphasizes this paradox: Dembélé is a Ballon d’Or winner… but he’s talked about less than other stars. This observation reflects the feeling that his real influence in matches, his ability to single-handedly turn around a defensive plan, is sometimes taken for granted. The world champion believes that, given his chaotic career and the level he has reached today, media recognition remains below his sporting value, almost an anomaly in the current landscape.
