Dembele’s Journey: From Injury Struggles at Barcelona to Ballon d’Or Glory with PSG
Ousmane Dembele joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for an initial fee of €105m (rising to €147m with add-ons). At just 20, he had already helped Dortmund lift the German Cup, scoring the opener in the final.
Handed Neymar’s former No.11 shirt, Dembele was unveiled as a future superstar. His debut showed promise when he assisted a goal as a substitute, but disaster struck in his first La Liga start—a hamstring tear sidelined him for four months.
Setbacks at Barcelona
Dembele’s time at Camp Nou was defined by injuries. Though he collected three La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies, consistency eluded him.
According to FourFourTwo, the Frenchman endured at least 14 muscle injuries in six seasons, missing around 784 days of action. He later admitted he felt “unlucky for three or four years” with recurring problems, as every recovery seemed to lead to another setback.
By summer 2023, Barcelona opted to cash out, selling him to Paris Saint-Germain for £43.5m, ending a turbulent six-year spell in Catalonia.
Revival at PSG
The move reignited his career. In the 2024–25 season, Dembele scored 35 goals in 53 matches, guiding PSG to a domestic double and their first-ever Champions League title.
He registered 21 goals and 8 assists in Ligue 1, and shone in Europe with eight goals, including decisive strikes in the knockout stages. His brilliance earned him the 2025 Ballon d’Or, beating Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to the crown.
At the Paris ceremony, an emotional Dembele admitted:
“What just happened is incredible. I’m speechless. It’s been an amazing season with PSG. I’ve experienced incredible things, and I’m a little nervous—it’s not easy.”
Calling the trophy “truly exceptional,” he expressed gratitude to PSG’s president, staff, and teammates, describing them as “a wonderful family.” He also hailed coach Luis Enrique, saying:
“He’s like a father to me. He helped me find my best form again.”
Receiving the award from Ronaldinho made the moment even more special for the once injury-plagued winger who had finally fulfilled his potential.
