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.
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.
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.
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