Criticism, status and pressure, Dembélé opens up on Ballon d'Or

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·12 September 2026

Criticism, status and pressure, Dembélé opens up on Ballon d'Or

As the list of the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or was revealed this week, Ousmane Dembélé spoke to L’Equipe about that famous trophy, which he won last year for the first time in his career. The 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and France forward went over what it can and cannot change, as well as the pitfalls and demands that come with such a title.

Dembélé: “You have to work on yourself.”

“Do people have the right to criticize a Ballon d’Or winner? Yes, of course. Just because you win this trophy doesn’t mean you’re ‘immune.’ Not at all. It’s actually the opposite. Are you allowed less room for error when you’re the Ballon d’Or winner? Yes, that’s kind of how it is. You have to be strong all the time. You have to be good in every match, otherwise people say: ‘Oh, look!’ It’s pretty funny, but it changes nothing. We’re always going to get criticism. Do you feel different from others when you’re the Ballon d’Or winner? No, but you do have to work on yourself. You can’t let your ego take over. You have to stay yourself. I think that’s real work every player has to do, especially if you’re the Ballon d’Or winner. You have to be careful with ego. It can eat you up.

Dembélé: “No, the same as everyone else.”

Should a coach manage a Ballon d’Or winner differently? No, the same as everyone else. Then again, I think that when you get a bit older, when you’ve spent at least ten or twelve years in football, a coach doesn’t manage you the same way as a youngster who has just arrived in the professional world, Ballon d’Or or not. I’m not the little kid who has just arrived in the professional game. Is it acceptable not to extend the contract of a Ballon d’Or winner? Not to extend the contract? (He smiles. According to L’Équipe, he and the club are close to an extension.) You do what you want. After that, it’s up to the coach, the sporting director and the president to decide. You can be the Ballon d’Or winner, but if they don’t want to extend you or if they want to tell you to leave the club, you’re going to leave, my friend.”

Dembélé: “Before thinking about that individual trophy, you have to win with the team.”

Can you ask more from your club when you’re the Ballon d’Or winner? No, you have to be reasonable. Do you still have to prove things when you’re the Ballon d’Or winner? Yes, even more so when you win that trophy. You have to show every season that you weren’t chosen for nothing. But in August, we start again from zero. We don’t forget the past, but we put it aside and think about the future. Once you get a taste of that, you want it to continue. Before thinking about that individual trophy, you have to win with the team. Because if you don’t have a good season individually and collectively, you’re not going to win that trophy.”

Far from letting his head get too big, Dembélé is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. As he admits, that has taken a certain amount of “work.” Which makes sense with a trophy like this. Football already has its stars; this is the crowning achievement for a player. There is only one winner each year, and the status that comes with it inevitably becomes unique.

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The way people look at the player changes, and not necessarily for the better. As the forward points out—and as we have clearly seen—expectations become even higher and criticism comes very quickly. As if winning the Ballon d’Or gave you some special power to succeed at everything. But the player remains a human being, with mistakes and more difficult periods. All the more so with a second straight season being played with almost no break.

Dembélé had some physical issues in the first part of the season, which delayed his start a little. Just like the whole Paris team. But the number 10 was very well managed by the staff, once again like the whole squad. We were able to see him gradually build momentum and return to form in order to shine again. And win.

We should also thank the excellent mentality of the French international, who did not get lost in the idea that he had suddenly become superior to everyone else. We can see here that the philosophy of the club and coach Luis Enrique is firmly in place: no one is above the collective. The player must always think about the team and earn his place going forward. There is no question of being protected or having special demands.

That is one of the keys to the success of this PSG side, even though it is packed with exceptional players. All we can do is hope this harmony continues and that they keep finding solutions on the pitch to win major team trophies. Be careful, though—victory is never guaranteed, and the competition will be very fierce this season. But Paris has strong arguments. Its Ballon d’Or winner among them, along with the other candidates in the squad. And above all, the collective, as always.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.