But this season in Paris has marked a clear turning point.
Under the guidance of Luis Enrique at PSG, Dembélé has been granted greater freedom — often drifting into central channels and operating as more than just a traditional winger. This positional fluidity has allowed him to tap into the core of his attacking talent. The result? A player who now looks mature, confident, and finally ready to dictate games on his own terms.
His explosive speed is still breathtaking — possibly the fastest ball carrier in world football today, reminiscent of a young Lionel Messi or Frenkie de Jong at Ajax. But the difference now lies in his decision-making. He no longer runs just for the sake of chaos. There’s a clarity to his play — picking his moments to dribble, pass, or shoot with far greater precision. It’s this evolved intelligence that has made him PSG’s main offensive weapon this season.
Another crucial factor has been his newfound consistency in fitness. For the first time in years, Dembélé has been relatively injury-free — and it shows in his rhythm and chemistry with teammates. He’s linking better, pressing harder, and scoring more. In terms of raw ability, he hasn’t drastically changed from the Dembélé of two or three seasons ago — but now, he’s in form, healthy, and in the right tactical setup to shine.
And when he's in this kind of form? He’s borderline unplayable.
At the start of the season, the idea of Dembélé lifting the Ballon d’Or would’ve sounded delusional.
Now? It’s very real.
He has the narrative. He has the numbers. He has the team success. And perhaps most importantly — he’s finally earned the world’s full attention. With Mbappé off to new pastures and names like Haaland, Vinicius, and Rodri fading from the spotlight, this may be the changing of the guard — and Dembélé’s name is suddenly at the top of the list.
If the Ballon d’Or is truly awarded to the best player in the world over the past year, Dembélé’s case is as strong as anyone’s.
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