Less than a year ago, Dembele was sidelined from the PSG squad due to a conflict with coach Luis Enrique. Yet, on the evening of 22/9, he stood on the stage at the Chatelet Theater in Paris, hoisting the most prestigious individual award in world football: the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

Before a Champions League group stage match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in October 2024, Enrique left Dembele in Paris. "Anyone who doesn't respect team discipline isn't ready to play," the Spanish coach stated.

Coach Luis Enrique played a major role in Dembele's transformation during the 2024-2025 season. Photo: Le Parisien

Coach Luis Enrique played a major role in Dembele's transformation during the 2024-2025 season. Photo: Le Parisien

This decision served as a wake-up call for the 28-year-old forward. Dembele began to adapt to his coach's demands. Enrique subsequently deployed him in a "false 9" role, a departure from his traditional wing position. This tactical shift allowed Dembele to fully utilize his abilities.

When PSG returned to the Emirates in 4/2025, Dembele scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory in the first leg of the semi-final. This win propelled PSG to their first Champions League title, culminating in a historic treble-winning season. Dembele contributed 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 matches.

Following PSG's 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the final in Munich, Enrique publicly endorsed his player for the Ballon d'Or. "I would give the Ballon d'Or to Dembele. Not just for the goals or titles, but for his leadership, the pressure he puts on opponents, and his defensive work. For me, Dembele is number one," the 55-year-old coach declared.

Born in Vernon, Normandy, to a Mauritanian-Senegalese mother and a Malian father, Dembele quickly shone at the Rennes academy. In 2016, he declined several offers from the Premier League to join Dortmund. Just a year later, he became the second most expensive player in the world when he moved to Barca for a fee that could reach 170 million USD.

However, his career at Camp Nou was marked by ups and downs. Dembele suffered recurring injuries, faced disciplinary actions, and was even considered the most penalized player in Barca's history. 14 hamstring injuries sidelined him for a total of 784 days, equivalent to over two years.

"Ousmane thought he was so good that he didn't need to focus. He would play PlayStation until 2 a.m. and still be able to play the next day," a friend revealed.

Dembele (left) at a PlayStation event. Photo: Daily Mail

Dembele (left) at a PlayStation event. Photo: Daily Mail

It wasn't until his marriage in 12/2021 and becoming a father 9 months later that Dembele realized off-field discipline was as crucial as talent. He hired a nutritionist, a personal chef, and employed a personal physiotherapist to maintain his playing condition. However, a hamstring injury kept him out for most of the latter half of the 2022-2023 season, leading Barca to decide against renewing his contract.

In the summer of 2023, Barca sold Dembele to PSG for 59 million USD, significantly less than what they had paid Dortmund. In his first season in Paris, Dembele's performance on the right wing was unremarkable. After Mbappe's transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, Dembele became the leading star in PSG's attack, gaining more freedom on the pitch.

"At 27, Dembele was still like a rough diamond," French football expert Julien Laurens commented on ESPN. "Enrique polished him the right way. Leaving him out of the Arsenal group stage match was the push he needed, and moving him to the center-forward position was a tactical turning point for PSG."

Statistics show that PSG had 9 players in the 30-man shortlist for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. However, Dembele's leadership and overall effectiveness set him apart. He was compared to the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, Rodri, due to his influence on the team.

Men's Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, during the gala at the Chatelet Theater, Paris, France, on the evening of 22/9/2025. Photo: Reuters

Men's Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, during the gala at the Chatelet Theater, Paris, France, on the evening of 22/9/2025. Photo: Reuters

The 2022 Ballon d'Or winner, Karim Benzema, once expressed his regret for not understanding the importance of discipline earlier. Dembele took this as a lesson, leading to his personal transformation. Now, he becomes the sixth French player to win the award, following Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, and Benzema. No country boasts more Ballon d'Or winners than France.

Dembele was substituted in the 41st minute of the 2022 World Cup final due to a poor performance, with France losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout. Just three years later, he became the centerpiece of PSG's treble-winning campaign and surpassed the 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal to claim the Ballon d'Or in Paris. At the upcoming World Cup in North America, Dembele will be looking to redeem himself as France remains a strong contender.

Dembele's success is a combination of many factors, including chance, according to journalist Ben Lyttleton, who first wrote about Dembele as a promising 16-year-old player at Rennes. "Enrique's arrival at PSG and Mbappe's departure were destiny's way of paving the path for Dembele to shine," Lyttleton wrote.

Dembele himself consistently emphasizes Enrique's role and the 55-year-old coach's ability to inspire. A memorable moment in the 2025 Champions League final saw Dembele lurking outside the penalty area with eager anticipation as Inter prepared to take a goal kick. He then pounced into the box to pressure the goalkeeper and center-backs. "Coach Enrique tasked me with being the first defender in the team," he explained.

From an undisciplined player plagued by injuries, once considered a failed signing for Barca and the subject of ridicule, Dembele now stands alongside legends like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane, and Benzema. This is a glory not every legend achieves.

Compiled by Xuan Binh