Dembele is on the cusp of the second Ballon d’Or… but the World Cup “decides everything”

Ousmane Dembélé put himself at the forefront of the race to win the Ballon d’Or for the second time in a row, after he led French club Paris Saint-Germain to a new crown by scoring a goal in the Champions League final against England’s Arsenal.
But his position in the race for the award, which will be held next October 26, will also depend on his performance with the French national team in the World Cup.
Every four years, the Ballon d’Or award is not only decided by local and continental numbers and achievements, but the World Cup also becomes the most influential factor in determining the identity of the winner. This is where football reaches its peak, an event watched by billions of people around the world.
But Saint-Germain left a strong mark this season after achieving its second successive title in the prestigious continental competition, in a final that will remain firmly established in the club’s memory. At the heart of this achievement, Dembele imposed himself as one of the team’s most prominent stars, logically becoming one of the most prominent candidates for the most important individual award in football.
The player himself said before the final: “If we want to become one of the top players, we have to win this type of title more than once.”
Although his teammate in the Georgian team, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, stole the spotlight in some periods of the season by scoring 10 goals and making 6 assists in the 16 matches he played in the Champions League this season, Dembele has something to support his chances, after he scored three goals against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, then added a goal in the final match, which came from a penalty kick won by his Georgian teammate.
It is true that his performance in the final was not ideal after he missed several opportunities, but executing the penalty kick at that crucial moment required great courage. That shot was a turning point in the match, as Dembele took the kick with the calm and confidence that distinguishes great players.
The French star had previously joked, “I realized that the cameras are on in such matches.”
He also participated directly in getting the penalty kick after a joint pass with Kvaratskhelia, who was fouled inside the penalty area.
Scoring in a European final remains an exceptional and unforgettable event, and often has a huge impact in the race for major individual prizes.
Despite repeated injuries this season, Dembele was able to perform at very high levels when he was available, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 13 Champions League matches, in addition to 10 goals and seven assists in 22 matches in the French League, where he was chosen as the best player of the season for the second time in a row.
Those close to him, in statements to Agence France-Presse since the winter, expected that the player would be “ready” to lead Saint-Germain in the spring, at the most important moment of the season.
Aside from his numbers, Dembele embodies the model of a complete player in modern football, which reflects his great appreciation for his Spanish coach, Luis Enrique, as he said, “At the beginning of last season, he spoke to me and said that I must be perfect, score more, make more goals, and also make a greater defensive effort, and for others to see me fighting.”
Through his body language on the field, when he motivates his teammates to press, or his sharp facial features, or his signal for silence after scoring, or even his strong insistence despite sitting on the bench at the end of the semi-final second leg against Bayern, as well as in the final against Arsenal, the former Barcelona player has turned into a true leader during the last two seasons.
In February, during a period that witnessed fluctuations in the results of the Parisian club, he was the one who raised his voice after the defeat in the league against Rennes (3-1), calling on his colleagues to focus more on team play.
On Friday, the player, whose contract expires in 2028 but stressed that he will stay next season, confirmed that “I have greater responsibilities since my arrival at Paris Saint-Germain,” adding that “nothing occupies my mind except that, but the individual awards will come later.”
As for the Ballon d’Or race, Dembele has an additional advantage over Kvaratskhelia, as he will participate in the World Cup with France, which is nominated for the title, while the Georgian national team will miss the tournament.
Dembele must quickly shift his focus to the French national team, where he will join the Clairefontaine camp starting Tuesday, before quickly traveling to the United States.
But the question remains about his physical condition, as he left the match before the extra two periods due to muscle spasms, according to what he himself confirmed.
Repeated injuries in two exhausting seasons also raise questions about his ability to maintain his level in a tournament such as the World Cup, which is expected to be very difficult in turn.