Ballon d'Or Ousmane Dembélé explains the mindset that leads to the top
Ousmane Dembélé, winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or and aged twenty‑nine, detailed in an interview the changes that allowed him to claim this trophy. He confirms that he remains a candidate again this year, despite the increased competition.
The joint interview took place with his club teammate, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and was broadcast by the BBC on Thursday, as part of a campaign that has intensified in recent weeks. Dembélé was thus able to present his new approach.
Maturity and mindset
He indicates that, at twenty‑eight, he has gained maturity, which has transformed his mindset on the pitch. This evolution has led him to prioritize efficiency and helping the team rather than spectacle.
“The mindset has changed,” he said, noting that he is no longer the same player as at twenty, when he was at Dortmund. He still wants to score and deliver assists, but over the years he mainly seeks efficiency.
The move to Barcelona
He recalls that his experience at FC Barcelona, alongside Lionel Messi, reinforced his sense of efficiency. The 2018 World Cup champion explains that playing with the best forced him to focus on performance.
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“When you’re twenty, you want to try two or three little tricks, fancy moves, you hear the crowd shouting, it’s normal,” he smiled, adding that “over the years, I have mainly sought efficiency.” He still carries that lesson today.
He acknowledges that winning the Ballon d’Or brings greater expectations and increased pressure, but he asserts that he remains true to his style when he steps onto the pitch. “I don’t change my way of playing,” he insists.
Unlike his teammate Kylian Mbappé, he does not set his sights on winning the trophy this season. He even said he would give the award to his club partner, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, if he did not win it.
If he were to win the Ballon d’Or again, he would welcome the accolade with immense pride, insisting that “when you’ve won the first time, you don’t want anyone to tell you it was luck.” He concludes by leaving the future open.