PSG had to sub off their star Ousmane Dembele in their Champions League final matchup vs. Arsenal. Despite being the one that scored the much-needed equalizer, the forward had to come off the field for an apparent muscle injury.
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.
PSG forward Ousmane Dembele was substituted with what appeared to be an injury just two weeks before the Champions League final against Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/tfyd06yOI6
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 17, 2026
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.
