Ousmane Dembélé is set to play a crucial role for Paris Saint-Germain as they face Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. The French winger, considered a top contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, expressed his focus on collective success rather than individual accolades, stating, “I’ve worked hard to get here, and the praise is welcome, but my focus is on giving everything I have for the team and achieving even greater things together.” He described the moment as a dream and emphasized PSG’s ambition to make history, acknowledging Chelsea as a tough opponent[1].
Dembélé’s return from a thigh injury has been described as “critical” for PSG by manager Luis Enrique. After missing the group stage and being limited to substitute appearances earlier in the tournament, Dembélé made an immediate impact in the semifinal against Real Madrid, assisting the opening goal and scoring shortly after. Enrique praised his unique contributions and reiterated Dembélé’s importance ahead of the final, also voicing his belief in the winger’s Ballon d’Or credentials. PSG are seeking to cap a historic season with the Club World Cup trophy, having already secured a continental treble under Luis Enrique[3].
Earlier in the season, Dembélé’s transformation at PSG, particularly his shift from the wing to a central role, has been pivotal. He has been directly involved in more goals in 2025 than any other player in Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues, with 31 goal involvements and 25 goals—his best-ever tally. This shift has ensured PSG haven’t missed Kylian Mbappé’s goals, and Dembélé’s relentless movement in the penalty area has drawn praise from both his coach and former teammates[4].
Lucas Hernandez, Dembélé’s PSG and France teammate, has publicly backed him as the favorite for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, citing his consistent performances throughout the season[5].
Dembélé had recently missed the start of the Club World Cup due to a quadriceps injury suffered with the French national team, but his recovery has come at a crucial time for PSG. His presence in the final is expected to be decisive as PSG pursue a historic quadruple[5].