Following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain captured the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League title. With two Champions League medals now to his name, Dembele is drawing inevitable comparisons to the game’s greatest players.

At 29 years old, Lionel Messi had already secured four UEFA Champions League titles, all with Barcelona (2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015). By contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo had captured two Champions League medals at that same age—one with Manchester United in 2008 and another with Real Madrid in 2014—before embarking on his historic three-peat in his early 30s.

PSG can continue the dynasty

PSG manager Luis Enrique, who secured another UCL title in his career, has built a remarkably balanced squad in Paris. Blending veteran experience with emerging youth, the Spanish tactician has guided the French powerhouse to back-to-back Champions League titles since taking over the helm in 2023.

Luis Enrique’s first major statement as manager was allowing Kylian Mbappe to depart for Real Madrid. While many pundits believed the superstar’s exit would prove catastrophic, the club has instead captured the consecutive European crowns that ownership originally thought would only arrive with Mbappe on the roster.

In 2025, PSG came agonizingly close to completing one of the most dominant seasons in soccer history, missing out on the FIFA Club World Cup following a defeat to Chelsea. However, this latest Champions League triumph has fans fully believing that the dynasty will continue, with a historic three-peat firmly in sight for 2027.

Ousmane Dembele is the early frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or

By finding the back of the net in Budapest, Ousmane Dembele matched Cristiano Ronaldo in a UCL feat not seen since 2017. With another European trophy in hand, he is now aiming to retain the golden ball for a second consecutive year.

Following a sensational 2025 campaign, Dembele stands as the clear frontrunner to secure the Ballon d’Or once again. If he can replicate this club success with France at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, a starring role on the global stage would make an unassailable case for his second consecutive individual award.

It was a tough game where Dembele was subbed off due to injury. Still, he scored, and winning the UEFA Champions League final while being instrumental during the whole campaign could provide a boost in stock. The Ballon d’Or case for Dembele could get even bigger if his 2026 World Cup output is good. That if the injury allows him to play in it.

France are contenders to win the 2026 World Cup. A good tournament from Dembele is needed if the national team wants to actually lift the trophy formerly known as Jules Rimet. It would be France’s third world title.

Dembele’s importance for France in the 2026 World Cup

Dembele is key for the Bleus. He is one of the three forwards used by Didier Deschamps. His ability to run through spaces, shoot with both his feet and exchangeability up front make him a nightmare to deal with.

Given the recent success of France in the World Cup (2018 winners, 2022 runner-ups), having prime Dembele is more than just a luxury. In fact, it’s quite a need for the squad to keep aspiring for it all. The fact is world class players are not easy to find.

Who’s the last Ballon d’Or winner from France?

The last French player to win the Ballon d’Or is actually Dembele himself, dating back to last season. Hence, a Ballon d’Or win would confirm Dembele as one of the best players of the decade so far.

Dembele favored his right leg and struggled to even balance himself on that leg. The French star had troubles even trying to stabilize his leg. That prompted PSG manager Luis Enrique to sub Dembele off due to injury.

While the actual severity of the injury has not been disclosed, it’s worrisome that the player could not end the match. Alerts go off in France as they could miss a Ballon d’Or winner if the injury lingers all the way through the 2026 World Cup.

Dembele was doubtful before the Champions League final

Dembele was dealing, precisely, with a right calf muscle injury prior to this game. He first felt the discomfort in PSG’s final game of Ligue 1 vs. Paris FC. While it’s not clear if Dembele reinjured himself, the fact that Dembele was nursing the same leg he injured this time around might call for speculation awaiting on the official statement.

Dembele has a long list of muscle injuries in his career. However, this came in the worst moment possible, as it was in a crucial match vs. Arsenal with the Champions League on the line, and also just under 12 days away from the start of the 2026 World Cup.

PSG had to change schemes

While not in the literal sense of the word, as the 4-3-3 remained, the fact that Dembele left the field forced Luis Enrique to change the style of play, as Goncalo Ramos is much more of a traditional nine.

Dembele allows PSG to play freely, with a more dribbling and speedy-oriented style. Ramos is a typical center forward that will have to be nurtured with goalscoring opportunities.

The French forward’s physical effort was so intense that a potential muscle injury may need to be assessed after the match. Dembele has been one of the key figures in Luis Enrique’s squad and remains a crucial part of PSG’s attack.

With only a few days remaining before the start of the World Cup, Didier Deschamps is hoping to have all of his players at full fitness for France. However, this incident could potentially alter those plans moving forward.

The UCL Final scoring was opened by Kai Havertz shortly after kickoff, while Dembele leveled the match from the penalty spot. Following the 1-1 draw in regular time, this crucial game has gone into extra time.

Dembele is a key player for France

France will kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign in Group I, making their debut against Senegal on June 16th in New York, before facing Iraq in Philadelphia on June 22nd and Norway in Boston on June 26th.

If Les Bleus want to break down these tough defenses, they will rely heavily on Ousmane Dembele as their ultimate offensive spark; his explosive pace and elite 1v1 dribbling on the wing are vital for tearing apart backlines and generating chances for the squad.

After Kai Havertz joined Cristiano Ronaldo on an exclusive list of historic final goalscorers with his opener against Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembele also carved out his own piece of history with a second-half equalizer against Arsenal.

Per Spanish soccer data analyst MisterChip, Dembele became the only player since 2017 to score in a Champions League final as the reigning Ballon d’Or recipient—a legendary feat previously achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo during Real Madrid’s triumph over Juventus.

Can Ousmane Dembele win back-to-back Ballon d’Ors?

Dembele has put together a more discreet season so far compared to the sensational campaign that earned him his first Ballon d’Or. Nevertheless, his crucial goal in the Champions League final could very well pave the way for him to contend for back-to-back accolades.

In a FIFA World Cup year, the prestigious international tournament typically serves as the defining competition that journalists and judges evaluate for individual awards.

In 2023, Lionel Messi was awarded the Ballon d’Or largely due to leading Argentina to a FIFA World Cup victory. Erling Haaland was regarded as a formidable contender after winning the historic treble with Manchester City, yet voters ultimately decided that the World Cup title carried far more weight in the final decision.

As of today, it appears the 2026 FIFA World Cup—hosted across Mexico, Canada, and the United States—will ultimately decide who claims the next golden ball, with France and Ousmane Dembele firmly positioned as top contenders for global glory.

Ousmane Dembele limped out of PSG’s match against Paris FC on Sunday, May 17, in a major scare for club and country. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner exited the pitch in the 28th minute and went straight down the tunnel, with Goncalo Ramos replacing him. According to Fabrice Hawkins, the substitution was a matter of simple precaution.

“According to the initial reports, it is a simple precaution following an alert with Ousmane Dembele, who went off in the 28th minute of the match against Paris FC just two weeks before the Champions League final. The situation will be monitored over the coming days.”

Dembele’s season

Dembele has once again been excellent for PSG throughout this season, tallying 18 goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions. He was also recently named the Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the second consecutive campaign.

Following the Champions League final, Dembele is scheduled to join up with his France teammates ahead of the World Cup. Les Bleus kick off their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Senegal in New Jersey, and they will also face Iraq and Norway in Group I.

Dembele will be a key piece in Deschamps’ squad, as he has reached the World Cup in his best form and will surely be crucial in important moments. France have made back-to-back World Cup finals, defeating Croatia in 2018 before falling to Argentina on penalty kicks in 2022.

The exit of Dembele negatively impacted PSG during the match against Paris FC, and despite the fact that they received the trophy before the encounter and were already crowned champions, they ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat.

The focus heading into the decisive clash has not only been on tactics and form, but also on squad availability. Injuries have limited PSG’s options in recent weeks, raising questions about whether key players will be ready in time for such an important match.

The biggest absentee will be Ousmane Dembele, who was forced off during the first half of the first leg — raising the question of what happened to him and why he was subbed off by PSG against Monaco. Since then, the French winger has not fully rejoined group training, leaving him out for the return fixture at the Parc des Princes.

Why isn’t Dembele playing today for PSG vs Monaco?

Dembele is missing PSG’s second leg against Monaco due to a calf injury. A medical update from PSG revealed that he resumed individual training, though he has yet to return to full team sessions. That explains why he wasn’t included by PSG on their matchday squad to face Monaco.

PSG lineup vs Monaco

With Dembele unavailable, the starting XI against Monaco looks like this: Matvey Safonov; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Warren Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Per Fabrizio Romano, the French superstar needed to be subbed off with an injury against Monaco. PSG were losing the game at the time of the substitution, making it an uphill battle, plus the added concern of how much Dembele hurt. At the end of the first half, PSG were able to tie the game at 2-2.

While PSG will obviously want to have Dembele fit, this time it came as a blessing in disguise. Luis Enrique sent Desiré Doué to the field for Dembele, and the French prospect scored almost immediately to pull one back as his team was losing 2-0. Then, moments before halftime, Achraf Hakimi scored the equalizer.

Dembele has a long list of injuries

Dembele winning Ballon d’Or was a huge redemption story after his ill-fated time in Barcelona. He went from prospect, to a player that never fulfilled his hype, to Ballon d’Or. However, what’s always been a detriment to his career is his long injury history. According to TransferMarkt, Dembele has missed 162 games in his career due to injury.

Just in the 2025-26 season, Dembele has been injured for 73 days with four different injuries, missing 11 games. Dembele has missed games this season due to hamstring and calf injuries, as well as fitness and illnesses. Now, PSG will be on the fence once again with the status of one of their best players.

PSG have plenty of depth offensively

Thankfully for the Parisians, they have plenty of options offensively to take care of Dembele while he recovers. Players like Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desiré Doué, Ibrahim Mbaye, and even Gonçalo Ramos can play instead of Dembele.

While Dembele has all the talent in the world, PSG have the depth to try and not miss him. Still, when he is on the pitch, he is usually a difference-maker. For PSG’s sake, hopefully Dembele is able to return sooner rather than later.

The absence of their star winger adds intrigue to the clash, forcing Luis Enrique to rely on PSG’s squad depth. Flamengo may look to exploit the change, but the French side has several creative and experienced players ready to maintain pressure in attack.

Despite this challenge, PSG remain confident. Players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Lee Kang-In are expected to lead the offensive effort, supporting the team’s dynamic structure and helping bridge the gap left by Dembele.

Confirmed replacement for Dembele

To cover for Dembele’s absence, Luis Enrique has entrusted Desire Doue with a starting role on the wing. PSG aim to leverage Doue’s agility and energy to retain width and pace in attack, integrating him seamlessly into the 4‑3‑3 formation.

Here is PSG’s confirmed XI for today’s game against Flamengo: Safonov; Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Warren Zaire‑Emery; Fabian, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Lee Kang-In, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

With voting details now confirmed, Messi’s choices reflected a balance between proven excellence and evolving brilliance. His selections placed current form, impact, and consistency at the center of the conversation—factors that often define the award’s outcome.

As debates ripple across the soccer world, Messi’s votes, outlined in FIFA’s official voting breakdown, add important context to the final podium and sharpen comparisons among three of the most discussed names of the season.

How did Lionel Messi rank Dembele, Mbappe, and Yamal?

Serving as Argentina’s captain, Messi cast his vote with Ousmane Dembele in first place, followed by Mbappe second and Yamal third. The order mirrors a year in which Dembele’s influence and production consistently stood out across competitions.

Messi’s ranking also underscores a clear hierarchy, with five points awarded to Dembele, three to Mbappe, and one to Yamal—rewarding sustained elite performance while still acknowledging Mbappe’s continued impact and Yamal’s rapid ascent at the highest level.

Why Messi’s vote resonates beyond the result

Messi’s vote resonates beyond the result because the perspective of a historic, world‑class player carries enormous weight. Even if one ballot doesn’t decide the winner, his choices reflect how the very best in the game judge performance, consistency, and impact, adding depth to the debates about excellence and rising talent.

The announcement crowned a season defined by elite performances, decisive moments, and sustained excellence by the Frenchman, who played an instrumental role in PSG’s first-ever Champions League title.

Dembele, who also won the Ballon d’Or in September, now enters a selective group of The Best winners, immediately drawing comparisons to the benchmark figures of the award’s history: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

How many FIFA The Best awards does Lionel Messi have?

Messi has claimed three FIFA The Best awards (2019, 2022, 2023), reinforcing his enduring influence across different stages of his career and solidifying his place in soccer history.

How many FIFA The Best awards does Cristiano Ronaldo boast?

Cristiano Ronaldo won two FIFA The Best awards (2016, 2017), both during his peak years at Real Madrid, highlighting a period when his individual dominance aligned seamlessly with team success.