Dembele receives the 2025 Ballon d'Or at the gala in Paris on the evening of 22/9. Photo: AFP

At the start of the 2024-2025 season, after Kylian Mbappe's departure to Real Madrid, Enrique acknowledged PSG's lack of a 50-goal-a-season player. His solution was a tactical shift, distributing responsibility across the team.

The initial months proved challenging. Dembele even clashed with Enrique, engaging in a heated argument after a 3-1 Ligue 1 victory against Rennes in October 2025. This led to the French star's exclusion from the squad facing Arsenal in the second Champions League group stage match, which PSG lost 0-2.

"If someone hasn't fully met their obligations to the team, it means they're not ready," the Spanish coach said of Dembele's absence. "During such a crucial week, we need everyone prepared. If someone doesn't meet expectations, it's not a problem, but my goal is to do what's best for the team."

Following this setback, Dembele's attitude improved. By early 2025, Enrique's tactical changes began yielding impressive results. Operating as a "false 9," drifting to the right wing, and dropping into midfield, Dembele became PSG's key scorer. Of his 35 goals in the 2024-2025 season, 24 came in the latter half. He also contributed 6 goals and 5 assists in 9 Champions League knockout stage matches.

Besides adapting well tactically, Dembele also avoided injury. The player, once plagued by injuries at Barca, enjoyed an uninterrupted run during the final months of the 2024-2025 season, only briefly sidelined by injuries while playing for France in early June and September.

Dembele's exceptional form propelled PSG to a quadruple, winning the Champions League, Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the French Super Cup. This marked PSG's first Champions League title, making them only the second French team to achieve this feat after Marseille.

The Ballon d'Or is awarded based on individual performance, team achievements, and fair play. Dembele fulfilled all three criteria during his "golden season." The voting results reflected this, with Dembele securing a landslide victory over runner-up Lamine Yamal, according to France Football's editor-in-chief.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, earlier this decade, the notion of Dembele winning the Ballon d'Or, especially ahead of Mbappe, would have seemed comical. However, the 28-year-old not only achieved the seemingly impossible but did so deservedly.

Thanh Quy (according to Marca)