At a press conference ahead of the France-Spain Nations League semi-final, Ibrahima Konaté spoke in favor of Ousmane Dembélé, the 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker and his teammate in France, for the Ballon d’Or.
Konaté: “Ousmane, what he’s done during the season is simply exceptional.”
“You talk to me a lot about Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. No one has mentioned Ousmane Dembélé, who has had an exceptional season. I have no words to describe it; no one expected him to reach this level. I’m the happiest for him. In all honesty, the one who deserves the Ballon d’Or is Ousmane Dembélé!
Will the Ballon d’Or be decided on Thursday during the France-Spain match?
No, but that’s the Spanish. They asked Lamine Yamal a question… I don’t know how they phrased it… I have no idea. But it was very, very strong. You should do the same for the French players. It’s illogical to want to focus everything on Thursday’s match. Ousmane, what he’s done during the season is simply exceptional.” Simply put, Ousmane deserves the Ballon d’Or and that’s it.
Konaté: “It’s not going to be decided on Thursday.”
Frankly, Yamal had an exceptional season. We must recognize the talent he possesses at 17. To do that, I don’t even know if Messi managed to do that at the same age. It’s impressive. But I’m sorry, he’s a great communicator, but it’s not going to be decided on Thursday.”
Ousmane Dembélé had a 2024/2025 season that will be remembered as a crowning achievement, both individually and collectively. Technically, the Paris Saint-Germain winger dazzled Ligue 1 and Europe with his talent, combining mind-blowing dribbles, lightning acceleration, and decisive moves.
But beyond the spectacle, Dembélé posted statistics worthy of the greatest: 21 goals and 9 assists in the league, Ligue 1’s top scorer, and a major influence in major European competitions.
His consistency and efficiency have propelled him into the elite circle of the continent’s most decisive strikers, with a goal every 1.4 games and a goal every 83 minutes in Ligue 1.
Above all, he capped this exceptional season with major titles: Ligue 1, Champions League, and Coupe de France, establishing himself as one of the key architects of Paris’s treble. Dembélé thus combined technical virtuosity, consistency, and a remarkable track record, establishing himself as a natural candidate for the Ballon d’Or.
