Dembélé on Ballon d'Or: "It's the Holy Grail of Football"

The football world is buzzing with anticipation. This September, the coveted Ballon d’Or France Football 2025 will be announced, capturing the attention of fans globally.

Ousmane Dembélé: A season to remember

Following a spectacular season both on a team and individual level, Ousmane Dembélé stands out as the top contender for the prestigious award. The Parisian number 10 swept titles, being named the best player in both the Champions League and Ligue 1.

In an interview with FourFourTwo, the French international shared his views on this esteemed accolade. To him, the Ballon d’Or symbolizes the pinnacle of football achievements. “For an individual trophy, there’s nothing better for a footballer. It’s the ultimate honor in football. Seeing all the legends who have won it is exceptional. Before the Champions League final, people were calling out my name, shouting ‘Ballon d’Or, Ballon d’Or,” he revealed.

Focus on team success

Continuing, Dembélé said, “But to be honest, Luis Enrique, the staff, and all the players were truly focused on the team, especially the Champions League final. Nonetheless, after a season like this, with four titles, goals, and assists, it’s normal to be considered a favorite for the trophy.”

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Dembélé reveals the secret behind his pressing

During the previous season, Dembélé dazzled the football world with his goals, assists, and relentless teamwork. The Frenchman consistently played for the team, exemplified by his relentless pressing during the Champions League final, moments that captured global attention.

“My pressing in the Champions League final and my focused look? It’s not concentration. I’m just tired. After sprinting 3, 4, 5 times, when I take that position, it’s just to recover. I glance around and think, ‘hold on a bit before making the pass, I need to recover as much as possible.’ The coach asks me not to give the goalkeeper and defenders time to think because if you give them 3, 4 seconds, they can make the right pass and disrupt the pressing. These are short sprints. I’d rather sprint 10-15 meters towards the goalkeeper than run 50 meters back. That’s worse.”