Ousmane Dembele Focuses On Title Of Champions League, Not Ballon D'Or

JAKARTA - Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Ousmane Dembele said that the potential Ballon d'Or award was in his mind as he prepared for the Champions League final against Inter Milan on Sunday, June 1, 2025, early morning WIB.

The French National Team player has been a key figure for PSG during their trip to the final.

He has also been one of the best players in Europe this season with 30 goals in all competitions, including 24 goals in 18 matches from December 2024 to March 2025.

The performance has made Dembele appear as the leading candidate to win this year's Ballon d'Or.

However, the 28-year-old said that the chances of winning a personal award were second in priority after winning PSG's first Champions League title.

"When you become a PSG player, the most important thing is to bring home trophies like the Champions League."

"I focus on the team, not individual trophies. (Ballon d'Or) is in my mind, but I want to focus on the team."

"Since January 2025, our mindset has really changed. We want to keep going and win. We are very excited about this match."

"Inter Milan is a great team that deserves to enter the final. They are tough, know how to defend, and how to attack. So, we have a tough opponent."

"I've prepared myself well for this final. Since I was a child, I've dreamed of playing in this match."

"We have to stay focused on the game, on the team, on myself. I hope we can look fantastic," he said.

This season Dembele underwent a major transformation. He had six less impressive years at Barcelona, followed by three goals in 26 Ligue 1 games for PSG last season.

Namun, musim ini dia begitu menyelang. Dia menjadi sorotan setelah perubahan yang dilakukan Luis Enrique menjadikan PSG sebagai tim koleksi.

"Dembele has been one of the best players of the season, if not the best. He scored goals, passed, fought, defended, and that's the real mentality. That's a leader."

"A true leader is a person who shows the path that must be taken with his example."

"It was great for me to listen to Ousmane, give her confidence, and develop her quality," Luis Enrique said at a press conference before the match, Friday, May 30, 2025, local time.

Dembele has helped fill the void left by Kylian Mbappe's departure to Real Madrid last summer.

Mbappe's departure follows the departure of two other members from the club strike trio who were once very well known, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

With the departure of the trio, a greater focus is given to the collective.

"It's about being a team, not an individual group. I fell in love with this team. It was a pleasure to be part of the squad," said PSG captain Marquinhos.

If they make it out as PSG champions for Lia Champions, it will make them the first French champions in Europe since Marseille's eternal rival in 1993.

At the same time, this achievement has been the result of the long-awaited investment of Qatar Sports Investments, which bought the club's majority stake in 2011.

The only previous Champions League final for Les Parisiens came in 2020, when they were beaten by Bayern Munich.