"I was a kid who just wanted to play football"

Original article from France Football, published after the 2025 ceremony.

"Is this Ballon d'Or more like your best goal or your best dribble?

(He thinks for a moment.) My best dribble. It would be the feint, the one that beats the opponent. Simplicity, from start to finish.

Given that this Ballon d'Or feels sudden and unexpected—a win on your very first nomination—and follows a massive second half of the season, one could also see it as one of your signature bursts of speed. Like receiving the ball in midfield, taking a directional touch, and launching a blistering run.

That's a good way to put it... But when you win almost every trophy, including a Champions League—which carries so much weight in a year without a World Cup or Euros—and you have the individual stats, I think you're among the top five players in the world. I won't say it was completely unexpected, because at the start of every season, my entourage is always telling me I could be on the Ballon d'Or list... Still, a season like this is exceptional.

"The first congratulatory message I got? It was from Messi."

If you had to compare this Ballon d'Or to a specific play from your career?

My goal against Tottenham (for Barcelona, a 1-1 draw on December 11, 2018, in the Champions League group stage). I pressed the opponent, he lost his balance, I won the ball back, and then it was a two-on-two situation, and I just said to myself, "I'm going all the way." I pushed the ball forward, accelerated, saw the defender coming in for a wild tackle, faked him out, and scored. That's a bit like this Ballon d'Or. The finish. Unexpected. And it ends with a goal.

What was the first congratulatory message you received?

It was from (Lionel) Messi. I also heard from Xavi, Luis Suarez, and many of my former Barça teammates. They were happy for me. I didn't get my PSG teammates on a video call, but I got messages from Achraf (Hakimi), the coach (Luis Enrique), Luis Campos, all of them.

A year ago, who would have predicted Ousmane Dembélé as the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner?

(He laughs.) Moussa Sissoko (his agent, present during the interview), Moustapha Diatta (his best friend, also by his side)... My inner circle always told me.

Ousmane Dembélé's Bio.
Born May 15, 1997, in Vernon, France.
Position: Forward.
International: France (57 caps, 7 goals).
Career Path: Rennes (2010-2016), Borussia Dortmund (2016-2017), FC Barcelona (2017-2023), Paris Saint-Germain (2023-present).
Major Honors: Ballon d'Or in 2025, FIFA World Cup in 2018, UEFA Champions League in 2025, UEFA Super Cup in 2025, La Liga in 2018, 2019 and 2023, Ligue 1 in 2024 and 2025, Coupe de France in 2024 and 2025, Copa del Rey in 2018 and 2021, DFB-Pokal in 2017.
2024-2025 Season Stats: 60 matches, 37 goals, 15 assists, 5 yellow cards, 1 red card.

And you? Did you believe it?

No. I just let them talk. (He repeats.) I let them talk. I was mainly focused on the team. Winning a Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain was the goal. After that, you see what might happen with individual awards.

Ten years after your professional debut, have you become a "killer" on the pitch?

Ah, I don't know about that. That's for you to say. But this year, maybe a little, yes.

You're now among the greats of the game. Is that something you've strived for?

I've already told you I don't like talking about myself! I don't know, everyone has their own opinion. We try to achieve things. Being on the list of Ballon d'Or winners is an incredible one. When you look at all the names on that list, they are all legends.

And that's not just for a moment, but forever...

Yes, the Ballon d'Or is forever. To have won a World Cup, the Champions League, and then to add a Ballon d'Or... it's something huge. It's exceptional, a source of immense pride.

"I saw the Ballon d'Or nearby, I reached out, and well... here it is!"

Did you ever dream of winning the Ballon d'Or, even as a kid?

Yes, when I was little, I did. But as I got older, I didn't really think about it... I never told myself I was going to win the Ballon d'Or. It wasn't an obsession.

Did the Ballon d'Or come to you, or did you go out and get it?

It came to me. But towards the end, I was the one who went to get it. I saw it wasn't far, I reached out my arms, and I said, "Alright, come on!"

When you were on stage at the Théâtre du Châtelet, was the emotion we saw tied to past struggles and doubts?

Not really. At Barcelona, I had a lot of injuries. The more seasons went by, the more I got injured... In 2019-2020, I only played five league matches. But no, I never doubted myself. I was sure I would get back on the pitch and that everything would be fine. That's part of life; not everything can be perfect. It wasn't easy, but I learned a lot. At 28, I know my body inside and out. The struggles were mainly physical, related to the injuries. But I never doubted my football ability, not for a single second. I've always loved the game and always had that talent, so I wasn't worried. I just needed my body to allow me to express it.

And you also had to allow your body to express your football?

Exactly. Over time, I matured and became much more professional. I listened to the advice of the people around me. Today, everything is running smoothly.

Do you have any regrets about not understanding that sooner?

No, I have no regrets. That's just how it is. I don't regret anything from the beginning of my career until now. I've learned an immense amount, and it has helped me. When you have physical setbacks, it's not easy to get back to the top level. But as soon as your body listens to you—and you listen to your body—you can play regularly and showcase your talent. And in August, everything resets for a new season. The Ballon d'Or is for one season, not ten.

How highly do you rate your own talent?

I don't know about that, but yes, people tell me I have a lot of talent. I don't doubt my footballing ability. But there was also a lot of hard work involved. You can't do everything with talent alone. And that's what brought me here.

"Karim Benzema is the first 'people's Ballon d'Or winner,' and I am the second."

With the Ballon d'Or in your hands, what did you see in your mother's eyes?

A huge amount of pride. My whole family was happy—those who were there and those who weren't. It was pure joy. This Ballon d'Or is hers, too. She's my mother; she raised me on her own. I dedicate this award to her and to my entire family. But whether I won it or not, she is happy with the journey I've taken.

Were you happier for yourself or for her?

For my whole family, for everyone around me. As they say, this is the people's Ballon d'Or, too. Both Karim Benzema and I come from the projects, we grew up there, and to reach the highest level in the world and win a Ballon d'Or is exceptional. He is the first 'people's Ballon d'Or winner,' and I am the second.

From the La Madeleine neighborhood in Évreux to the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris...

It's not quite the same, not the same scenery! (Laughs). That was my whole childhood. I was a kid who just wanted to play football, nothing else, who was happy to be with his friends every day. And who had a dream: to become a professional footballer and make his family and friends proud.

Is the Ousmane Dembélé from La Madeleine the same one sitting here in the Crillon?

Yeah... a little more mature, though. But I haven't really changed; I've stayed the same. And I always will be. That's just me. The person from back then and the person here are the same.

And if the young Ousmane Dembélé had come here, how would he have felt?

First, he'd ask if there's anything to eat! (Laughs). If he walked in and saw the Ballon d'Or, he'd want to take pictures... then tell everyone. And he'd say: "I want that."

Did the idea of becoming a star, of being famous through football, appeal to you?

Yeah, being famous... although I didn't know about all the fuss that comes with it. I wanted to be a great player, to play in Champions League matches. If you're playing in those games, it means you're at a big club, that you're a star. So, I guess I am one.

"That's a big phrase, 'best player in the world.' To me, it doesn't mean anything."

And what do you think of this word "star"?

Pfft... I don't care. I want to stay the same. It doesn't bother me at all. Even though, sometimes, you can't walk down the street peacefully without someone asking for a photo. Then you take the picture. Sometimes, I try to blend in a bit to stay out of trouble, to protect myself, my privacy too.

In 2017, you told L'Équipe: "I'm certainly not going to say I'm the best player in the world!" Can you say that today?

"Best player in the world" is a big phrase. To me, it doesn't mean anything. It can change every weekend. One match, you're not good, people will say you're rubbish. The next match, you're the best in the world. (He's shown the Ballon d'Or.) Yes, yes... It's supposed to be... But, every two weeks, it can change. Then, when you have a great season, the best season ever, you get rewarded. You were the best player of the season.

The best player in the world that season.

Yeah, that's right.

Aren't we rewriting your history by saying you suddenly became a goalscorer? When you burst onto the scene in Ligue 1 with Rennes, you scored 12 times. Then, with Dortmund, it was 10 goals and 20 assists in all competitions.

Yes, I could score a lot. But I wasn't playing in the same position. At Rennes, I started two or three matches on the wing, but then I was right behind the striker, and it's not the same when you're closer to the goal. As a winger, you have to dribble past three or four players, you get in front of the keeper, you're tired, you shoot high, you see... (He laughs.) Even at Dortmund, I was more central and it was much easier. During my seven seasons at Barcelona, ​​I was mostly on the wing.

Do you approach your game differently in this more central position?

Of course. It's really not the same position between a winger hugging the touchline and a free-roaming player, we call it a false 9, but it's a free-roaming player. (In this position at PSG) Luis Enrique gives me a lot of freedom. I need it. I started out like that at Rennes. Rolland Courbis gave me a lot of freedom, told me to go everywhere. I really like this position. I can play as a winger, but in that position, I'm more likely to try and create some excitement in defenses, provide assists... Even though I was also asked to score. It's not the same thing.

So, what have you changed in the way you move, in anticipating the movements of your teammates and opponents?

As a free agent, a false 9, you're much more in the box, with less running to do than on the wing. The wingers, the full-backs, the midfielders look for you much more in the box. You're the number 9, you have to score goals. This season, my teammates have looked for me a lot. I'm much more alert than before when they have the ball. For me, it's a lot about positioning, between the lines, in the box. As a number 9, if you manage to position yourself well, you'll score fifteen goals, easily.

What work have you done to adapt to this new position?

It's with my teammates, with the coach (Luis Enrique) who also gives me some advice. I try to get into open space, behind the defender, to make myself available. It's a position I know well, one I really like; it's very tactical. I prefer being a free agent rather than on the wing, although that doesn't stop me from going there. We switch positions a lot. Our strikers are almost all wingers by training.

Is the instinctive element in your game the same as before?

Yes, it hasn't changed. There's instinct, a lot of instinct. Well, I also think more about my movements. When I find myself in a good position, Bradley (Barcola), Kvara (Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia), they'll see me and pass to me.

When you move, do you look at your teammates or your opponents first?

My teammates. And I know what they're going to do. When I see Bradley make a run in behind, or dribble past his defender in the box, I know what he's going to do next. It's them first. We give each other a lot of advice, on where he's going to put the ball, where I want it too. We also watch how things go in the first ten to fifteen minutes and we adapt very quickly.

Have you observed other strikers playing in the same style?

Not particularly, but I played at Barcelona with Lionel Messi, who was a false nine. You should have seen how he moved, how he made himself invisible to everyone. He'd walk, but he knew perfectly well the ball was coming to his feet because (Sergio) Busquets had spotted him. He'd drift into the number nine role, out wide, wherever there was space, he'd go everywhere. He'd stay in an offside position, and then suddenly he'd appear. I saw all that for seven years. Now, I try to do it. Then, as a number nine, Harry Kane is incredible. At Real Madrid, Kylian (Mbappé) plays as a number nine, but he's not really one. Those are the players I watch.

Before, you liked being described as a dribbler, a player who was beautiful to watch. Has that changed now?

No. I'd like to still be seen that way. That's what I love, dribbling, getting the crowd going, all that, that's what I love most. I've always been told I'm a thrill-seeker, so I want people to keep saying it and I want to keep being one. This year, though, I was playing in a new role where I needed to score goals, a lot more of them. The coach told me that. I replied, "I'll try."

How does one go from a thrill-seeking dribbler to a clinical finisher?

My playing style changes depending on my position. If I'm on the wing, I'll dribble and be a bit unpredictable. But if I'm playing as a number 9, I'll really play for the team. I'm going to be much more of a team player, helping the team to get the ball out of defense, to improve our passes... But in matches where the opposition has five or six players behind the ball, with little space in the center, I can also help the team by playing on the wing and taking on defenders one-on-one.

In 2022, Karim Benzema told France Football: "I've become the player I dreamed of being." Is that also the case for you?

Yes, me too. The player I've been this season (2024-2025) is the one I dreamed of being. Because I can do everything, I feel it, I'm much more complete. I can play centrally, on the left, on the right, change my style, pass, score, dribble.

Is this player you've become today a transformation or an evolution?

An evolution.

So, would you say you're a mutant?

(He laughs.) That's it.

One of the Larousse dictionary definitions of mutant is: "In science fiction, a being descended from the human lineage, but possessing extraordinary qualities." That fits, doesn't it?

A little, yeah. Let's put it that way. Except for me, it's not science fiction, it's real. (He laughs.)

Now, when you step onto the pitch, is it to score?

To help the team. To score, to make the pass, or the run that will create space. That's what Luis Enrique taught us. The goal isn't to score, it's to help the team first. The rest comes later... That's what the coach told everyone, and he was right when you look at the season.

After the final against Inter (5-0), was there a hint of disappointment at not having scored?

(Immediately.) No. Against Arsenal at the Emirates (first leg of the semi-final, 1-0, goal by Dembélé), it was perhaps my best match of the season, even if there wasn't a hat trick or a brace.

I couldn't care less (about the teasing he was getting)! I was just playing my game.

Did you imagine scoring?

Yes. Every match, every time I step onto the pitch, I tell myself I'm going to score three goals! (He laughs.) It's true. Then, sometimes it's zero, one, two...

Does the dribbling Dembélé, the YouTube highlight reel player, still exist?

It's the positioning that can change my style of play. But I liked being that player. It still exists. And it always will.

How did you take the comments, which sometimes bordered on mockery, about your lack of precision in the final pass?

Excuse my language, but I couldn't care less! I was just playing my game. If you like it, you like it; if you don't, that's how it is. Take it or leave it. Even if I wanted to score goals, I wasn't deliberately shooting high...

Do you think there are still skeptics about you today, saying, "This is just a one-off"?

There will always be some. Even if you have two, three, four, five good seasons, you have one bad one, and it's all forgotten. You can't please everyone, it's impossible. Everything starts from scratch at the beginning of each season.

Is there a risk of a letdown after winning the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or?

No, we're competitors, we want to win, again. Especially since, as soon as you get a taste of all that, you want to keep going. It hasn't diminished my hunger. We still have a lot to give to Paris Saint-Germain, big goals with the club. I'm a competitor, I want to play at the highest possible level, win every match and lots of trophies.

"If you're not hungry, with Luis Enrique, you'll be on the bench."

Are you even hungrier than before?

Yeah, of course. Because if you don't win, if you're not hungry, with Luis Enrique, you'll be on the bench. Or we'll buy another player.

How do you view your collective involvement in the team's pressing game?

The coach asked us to do it, especially the forwards. Sometimes, we would go, but not fully commit, and the opposition would manage to play out... He showed us all the video clips of that. As the season progressed, we started to press together as a unit. You might see my pressing, but everyone behind me is doing it too. If I do it alone, we're finished. It's something we have to do and will always do. With our style of play, when we press effectively, we win the ball back very quickly.

Are you aware that because of you, many coaches will now demand this kind of pressing from their strikers?

Yeah. Hugo Ekitike (at Liverpool) mentioned that to me as well. But it's a good thing. It has to be done. We attack together, and we defend together. And if you win the ball back in the final 20 meters, you have a much better chance of scoring than when you're making runs all the way from your own goalkeeper.

What did Nasser al-Khelaïfi whisper to you on the podium during the Champions League trophy presentation?

He said he was happy and that we had to keep going. He was already thinking about what comes next.

The PSG project was carried by stars like Ibrahimović, Neymar, Messi, and Mbappé, but it's ultimately with you that the club has achieved its ultimate goal...

No, not with me. Stop saying it was 'with me'! It was with everyone. This is a team... When you look at Achraf (Hakimi), Nuno (Mendes), and all the others, it's the whole group. This is the team's Ballon d'Or."