Ousmane Dembélé Credits Hard Work Over Destiny for Ballon d’Or Rise

Ousmane Dembélé has rejected the idea that he was marked out for stardom from the beginning, saying sustained work rather than any sense of destiny carried him to the Ballon d’Or and Paris Saint-Germain’s recent success.

Contrasting views on their rise

1. Kylian Mbappé, in an interview published by France Football, reflected on the contrasting expectations surrounding his career and that of his France team-mate. The Real Madrid forward said Dembélé had long been regarded as a gifted footballer, while he himself was viewed as “the chosen one”.
2. A day later, Dembélé addressed the comparison after PSG’s 1-0 Ligue 1 victory over Brest on Sunday night.
3. The Ballon d’Or holder said he had never considered himself the obvious successor to football’s biggest prizes, describing himself as someone who stayed in the background and worked relentlessly through his career.
4. “I was never the chosen one,” Dembélé said. “I worked very hard, and last year I was rewarded with an incredible season at Paris Saint-Germain.”
5. The forward said he is approaching the new campaign without added pressure, adding that he will see how the season develops.

Torres partnership in PSG’s changed attack

Dembélé’s immediate focus is on PSG’s reshaped forward line following Mbappé’s departure. The French winger has developed an encouraging link with Spain forward Ferran Torres, even as the side has occasionally taken time to settle into its new attacking combinations.

Having previously shared a dressing room with Torres at Barcelona, Dembélé said the pair’s existing familiarity has helped. He described Torres as a natural scorer who can lead the line or operate from wide areas, praising the runs he makes and the communication between them.

“He is a real goalscorer and a proper number nine, but he can play on the wing too,” Dembélé said. “He makes excellent movements, he is easy to find, and we speak a lot. It is easy with Ferran.”

Ballon d’Or race

The exchange comes as the nominees for the 2026 men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards have been confirmed. Dembélé is seeking to retain the men’s prize in a field that includes Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham.

The ceremony is scheduled to be held in London on October 26.