Luis Enrique Dismisses Ousmane Dembele’s Ballon D’Or Glory As ‘Meaningless’ Ahead Of PSG’s Clash With Leverkusen

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has delivered a blunt message to Ousmane Dembele, saying his Ballon d’Or award “means nothing” as the French winger prepares to return from injury for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Dembele, who recently became the best male player in the world after beating Lamine Yamal to the prestigious award, has not featured for PSG since August due to injury. However, he’s now fit and ready to make his comeback as the French champions continue their title defence.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a sensational 2024-25 campaign, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists across all competitions as PSG lifted five trophies — including Ligue 1, Coupe de France, French Super Cup, and the Champions League.

Luis Enrique’s Brutal Take On The Ballon D’Or

Despite Dembele’s glittering season, Luis Enrique insists the past achievements are no longer relevant.

“You (the media) see things in a different way. He isn’t the Ballon d’Or; he is Ousmane Dembélé. The person he is and the energy that he brings are more important to the team,” Enrique told Canal Plus.

“The Ballon d’Or is over […] you value that, but it means nothing. For us, the important thing is to get back Marquinhos, Désiré Doué, and Ousmane! I am happier with his energy, with how he is as a person, than the Ballon d’Or; the Ballon d’Or is over.”

The Spaniard emphasized that PSG’s focus must now shift to new challenges as the team looks to maintain its dominance both domestically and in Europe.

PSG Gear Up For Leverkusen Showdown

Speaking about the upcoming Champions League fixture, Luis Enrique acknowledged the strength of Xabi Alonso’s side.

“It’s difficult to give Leverkusen credit for signing 20 players and a new coach. They score goals and can defend very deep, they know how to put pressure on,” he said in his pre-match press conference.

“We’ve brought in a lot of young players who have shown quality. This start to the season has been different and difficult because we’ve overcome challenges we shouldn’t have had. We’ve shown resilience. Tomorrow is very important — we want to take points early.”

Meanwhile, Leverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand praised PSG, calling them “perhaps the best team in the world.”

“We have a lot of respect for them. It will be a difficult match, but we’re excited. We’re at home and will show our qualities,” Hjulmand said.

With Dembele’s return and Enrique’s unwavering focus, PSG look set to continue their quest for Champions League glory, proving that at Sports Market International, we cover the game beyond the headlines — where mindset meets mastery.

Seeing Ousmane Dembele crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner was a deeply emotional moment for Dayot Upamecano. The Bayern Munich defender, who grew up with the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star in Evreux, admitted he was moved to tears after watching his childhood friend and France teammate lift football’s most prestigious individual award.

Emotional Upamecano hails Dembele’s historic win

In an interview with Le Parisien, Upamecano expressed his pride at seeing Dembele join the elite list of Ballon d’Or winners. The 28-year-old PSG forward enjoyed a sensational 2024/25 season, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists, while inspiring the Parisian club to a historic treble — Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the UEFA Champions League.

Dembele beat Barcelona wonderkid Yamine Lamal and PSG teammate Vitinha to claim the award in Paris on September 22.

“When I saw him lift the Ballon d’Or, it brought tears to my eyes,” said Upamecano. “We all knew he would become a great player, but still… Seeing him thank his family, his mother, his friends — it was a magnificent moment.”

From schoolyard rivals to global recognition

Upamecano and Dembele share a long history, having grown up together in Evreux, France, where they honed their skills on the same pitches.

“We went to the same school, we played on the same pitches, I played against him in CM1-CM2,” recalled the Bayern star. “Those were some of the best moments of my life. In Evreux, everyone came together — African, Turkish — it was special. Now having a Ballon d’Or winner from our region is a huge source of pride.”

A proud moment for France and Evreux

For Upamecano, Dembele’s triumph is not just a personal joy but also a collective victory for their hometown and for French football.

“Having a Ballon d’Or winner from our region is amazing,” he said. “It shows kids from Evreux that anything is possible.”

At just 18, Lamine Yamal stood on the cusp of rewriting history.

Had he lifted the Ballon d’Or in Paris, he would have become the youngest winner ever. He didn’t — Ousmane Dembele’s collective triumph with PSG proved too strong — but the fact that the Barcelona teenager was even a candidate is revolutionary. Yamal already seems destined to create an era.

Crowned young player of the year, he is not simply a footballer. He is a symbol of his generation — a star who blends talent, confidence, and culture in a way that speaks to millions.

Closer to a pop star than a traditional footballer

For decades, football told us greatness came from humility and sacrifice.

Lionel Messi called the Ballon d’Or a “consequence of the team’s work.” Cristiano Ronaldo turned discipline into a global theatre of effort.

Lamine Yamal, by contrast, represents something new. He embodies a youth culture that doesn’t hide ambition. He has boldly declared: “I don’t dream of one Ballon d’Or, I dream of many. If I don’t get them, it will be my fault.”

This isn’t humility or warrior mentality — it’s self-ownership. A belief that destiny belongs to the individual. And it resonates with generation Z and alpha, who value freedom, fun, and visibility as much as hard work.

Breaking the mould through social media

With over 38.6 million Instagram followers, Yamal is not a mystery like Messi or a perfectly curated icon like Ronaldo. Instead, he offers raw immediacy.

He shares dances, private moments, and snapshots of his life with fans worldwide. This transparency has made him an idol, not because he reflects the old La Masia virtues of discretion, but because he breaks them.

Like a pop star, Yamal’s fame is built on charisma, spontaneity, and connection. His youthful energy bridges generations and global audiences, reinforcing why he is seen as the future of the game.

Character, resilience, and a tough upbringing

Lamine Yamal is fiercely self-aware. He knows he is a prodigy and embraces the responsibility that comes with wearing Barcelona’s number 10 shirt — following in the footsteps of Messi, Ronaldinho, and Maradona.

His strength comes not only from talent but from life’s challenges. Raised by a hardworking mother in Rocafonda, a working-class neighborhood, Yamal saw struggle and sacrifice first-hand. His father’s stabbing when he was 16, and his own early struggles at La Masia, toughened him further.

The first thing he bought with his earnings was a house for his mother, calling her “my queen.” This grounded humanity keeps him focused amid the glamour.

Growing beyond expectation

Football, though, has a way of humbling. Injuries have forced Barcelona to find success without him, easing the suffocating “Laminedependencia.” That’s good news for both club and player — allowing him to develop within a strong collective.

On the pitch, his defensive effort, intensity, and duels show growth. Coaches Hansi Flick and Luis de la Fuente are shaping him into a total footballer.

Redefining what it means to be a star

At just 17, Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for best young player at the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards. But the real question isn’t talent — it’s endurance.

How will he respond to setbacks, benching, or injuries? Those tests will shape whether he becomes a legend.

As Shakespeare once wrote, “The eve of battle is as dramatic as the fight itself.” That’s where Yamal is now: standing on the edge of greatness, walking the stage like a king in waiting.

If he learns to turn ambition into endurance, he won’t just define Barcelona or Spain — he could redefine football itself for the 21st century.

Lamine Yamal- sportsmarketinternational.com

Final thoughts from the best sport blog

For readers of Best Sport Blog and followers of Sports Market International, Lamine Yamal’s story is more than football. It’s about youth, culture, and the changing face of global stardom.

At just 18, he’s already redefining what it means to be a star — and the world is watching.