Following the French national team’s 4–1 victory over Norway on Friday evening during Matchday 3 of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA named the Player of the Match. Ousmane Dembélé—the 29-year-old forward for Paris Saint-Germain and Les Bleus—was the unsurprising choice.
Having scored a hat-trick, it was hard to look past Dembélé, even though there were other strong performances and goals aren’t the only measure of success. The PSG forward and 2025 Ballon d’Or winner emphatically reminded everyone that he has a role to play at the highest level, silencing those who had already written him off for the national team following a few lackluster displays.
