Ousmane Dembélé Focused on Champions League Glory Over Ballon d’Or

MUNICH, Germany — Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is fully focused on helping his team secure their first Champions League title, even as speculation swirls around his potential to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

The 28-year-old forward will lead PSG against Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday. With 30 goals across all competitions this season, Dembélé has emerged as a frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or title. He has been directly involved in 12 Champions League goals this season, setting a club record.

“When you are a PSG player, what’s important is to take home the silverware, such as the Champions League,” Dembélé said during a pre-match press conference. “I am focused on the team, not individual trophies. It [Ballon d’Or] is in the back of my mind, but I want to focus on the team.”

Since January, PSG has undergone a significant transformation in mindset, which has energized the squad as they prepare for this crucial match. “We want to continue now and get the victory, and we are very excited about the game,” Dembélé added.

PSG captain has lauded Dembélé’s impact since the departures of key players like Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Neymar. “It’s about being a team, not a group of individuals,” PSG captain said, expressing his pride in the squad’s cohesion.

This final presents a historic opportunity for PSG, who aim to become the first French club to win the Champions League since Olympique de Marseille in 1993. The club’s only prior final appearance was in 2020, where they suffered a defeat to Bayern Munich.

Coach Luis Enrique praised Dembélé’s leadership, describing him as “one of the best players of the season.” Dembélé himself remarked, “I hope we’ll be able to produce a fantastic performance.” As kick-off approaches, he is poised to chase both team glory and individual accolades.