News Summary
Created using AI and editorially reviewed.
- French forward Ousmane Dembélé delivered an outstanding 2024-25 season for PSG, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists in 53 matches.
- Dembélé helped PSG secure multiple titles in 2025, including Ligue 1 and the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.
- A member of the 2018 World Cup-winning French squad, Dembélé aims to score at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
May 30, Kathmandu. The football journey of French forward Ousmane Dembélé has been both challenging and inspiring. At a young age, his exceptional speed, dribbling skills, and creative play style caught the attention of France’s Evreux club. After just one season in Ligue 1, German club Borussia Dortmund signed him.
Following an impressive run in the Bundesliga, Dembélé gained international recognition and secured a move to the renowned FC Barcelona. During his time in Barcelona, he won La Liga three times, the Copa del Rey twice, and the Supercopa twice.
However, injuries disrupted his career, preventing consistent performance at the expected level. In 2023, he returned to France and joined Paris Saint-Germain, where he soon regained his top form.
His playing style is highly admired—characterized by explosive pace, ambidexterity, excellent dribbling, and precise passing that can penetrate defenses. Dembélé is recognized as a game-changer who can alter the course of a match singlehandedly.
The year 2025 was particularly significant for Dembélé. PSG clinched Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions, and for the first time in the club’s history, he won the UEFA Champions League. Additionally, France reached the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with Dembélé being one of the key players in that campaign.
When FC Barcelona signed Dembélé in 2017, they invested approximately €105 million, making him the second-most expensive player in football history at that time. Only Neymar was costlier, having transferred for €220 million from Barcelona to PSG.
During his tenure at Borussia Dortmund, Dembélé’s speed, dribbling, and creativity attracted global attention, prompting Barcelona to view him as a future superstar and pay a hefty fee. Yet, his time in Spain was marred by injuries that caused him to miss nearly 120 matches—equivalent to almost two full seasons.
Upon moving to PSG, Dembélé regained his peak performance. The 2024-25 season stood out as one of the best of his career, with 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances—surpassing his combined contributions of the previous five seasons.
This remarkable resurgence demonstrated that Dembélé possesses not only immense talent but also the mental strength to overcome adversity.
Dembélé’s World Cup Journey
Dembélé achieved significant international success at a young age. At 21, he was part of the French team that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup. During the Russia World Cup, he started in two group-stage matches.
He contributed to a 2-1 victory over Australia and played to a goalless draw against Denmark. However, his role was limited in the knockout rounds, entering the quarter-final against Uruguay only in the final two minutes. Nevertheless, France ultimately defeated Croatia to claim the World Cup, with Dembélé as a squad member of the victorious team.
His performance improved notably during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In the opening match against Australia, he assisted Kylian Mbappé in scoring, contributing to a 4-1 win. He continued to showcase excellent synergy with Mbappé during the 3-1 victory over Poland, helping France advance to the quarter-finals.
The final in Qatar became one of the most thrilling games in football history. After a 3-3 draw through extra time against Argentina, the match was decided by a penalty shootout, which Argentina won, leaving France as runners-up.
Despite playing in the final, it was a challenging match for Dembélé. France faced pressure from the start and, trailing 2-0, he was substituted off in the 41st minute, ending his World Cup run.
Looking ahead, the 2026 FIFA World Cup presents a special opportunity for Dembélé. Though highly successful in club football, he has yet to score in a World Cup or European Championship on an individual level. Scoring at the upcoming tournament remains a major personal objective.
Given his current outstanding form with PSG, Dembélé is expected to be one of France’s most dangerous attackers at the 2026 World Cup. His pace, dribbling skills, ability to play with both feet, and creative attacking style will enhance France’s strength.
The French team, packed with a blend of youth and experience, is viewed as one of the favorites to contend for the title.
