Giroud reveals the secrets behind Dembélé’s success

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·23 September 2025

Giroud reveals the secrets behind Dembélé’s success

Olivier Giroud (38 years old, striker for Lille) delivered a heartfelt tribute to Ousmane Dembélé (28 years old, winger for Paris Saint-Germain) to L’Équipe. The former French international highlighted the player's unpredictability and dual technical mastery, making him a credible candidate for the Ballon d'Or after a historic season with Paris.

Giroud "He is totally unpredictable"

"What has always struck me about Ousmane is his unique ability to unsettle his direct opponent with his body feints, changes of direction and tempo, and speed of execution. He is totally unpredictable, especially since he can shoot with both his right and left foot. He's a joker, a good-natured person, always smiling, always joking, making jokes, a great guy in the locker room, and it's a pleasure to see him achieve this."

Giroud "He has the talent, but he needed the right year, with the right club"

Did I perceive early on a potential for the Ballon d'Or? It's hard to say that, when I saw him with all the players in the French team, no, I didn't necessarily think 'he's a Ballon d'Or in the making.' For a Ballon d'Or, you need to have the talent but also the right season that will propel you to the forefront. He has the talent, but he needed to have the right year, with the right club, and win everything as he did, because the Ballon d'Or always largely depends on the team.

Olivier Giroud doesn't stop at the technical qualities of Ousmane Dembélé. The former striker of the French team also highlights his human role, valuable in a locker room. At 28, the winger for Paris Saint-Germain establishes himself as a unifying player, always smiling, joking, capable of easing the atmosphere in tense moments.

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In a team aiming for the top, this type of personality is essential: it balances the rigor of daily work with a dose of lightness, allowing his teammates to release the pressure. In a PSG often scrutinized and criticized, Dembélé's good humor becomes an invisible but crucial weapon. Giroud thus emphasizes that beyond the dribbles and goals, it is also this positive mindset that contributes to making him a legitimate candidate for the Ballon d'Or.

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