Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé was crowned world's best male player by a Guardian panel of 219 experts, largely due to his remarkable transformation from an unfulfilled youth prospect into a dominant force on the pitch.
When researching talented young French players in 2014 for an initial article, I asked probing questions that went beyond technical ability. Questions about resilience, adaptability, decision-making, creativity, work ethic, response to feedback and willingness to learn were crucial in identifying which players had what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
Dembélé's exceptional talent was paired with a strong obligation to improve, as noted by former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel. In Tuchel's system, players were categorized into three main categories: A (aggressive-motivated), B (binding-motivated) and C (curious-motivated). Dembélé's unique combination of skills made him a standout as a C player.
The journey to greatness was far from smooth for Dembélé. After joining Barcelona in 2017, he struggled with injuries and inconsistency, scoring only 24 league goals over six seasons at the club. His most memorable moment came in the 2019 Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, when he missed a crucial one-on-one opportunity.
When Dembélé finally left Barcelona, amid criticism of his underperformance, it was seen as a welcome relief for all parties. However, it marked the beginning of an incredible resurgence. Last season, Luis Enrique's plan to replace Kylian Mbappé's goals with Dembèle's proved prophetic, as the Frenchman became the main man.
Dembélé's transformation is largely down to his exceptional qualities – qualities that were present at 17 and still evident today. His vision, movement, pace, control, and positioning set the tone for Paris Saint-Germain's success. While some attributes remain hard to quantify, such as team chemistry and coach-player relationships, Dembèle has consistently demonstrated a rare ability to excel under pressure.
Awards like this one are a testament to his enduring talent, hard work, and dedication. It is clear that the path to greatness is rarely linear, but for players with exceptional qualities and the right environment, anything is possible.
When researching talented young French players in 2014 for an initial article, I asked probing questions that went beyond technical ability. Questions about resilience, adaptability, decision-making, creativity, work ethic, response to feedback and willingness to learn were crucial in identifying which players had what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
Dembélé's exceptional talent was paired with a strong obligation to improve, as noted by former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel. In Tuchel's system, players were categorized into three main categories: A (aggressive-motivated), B (binding-motivated) and C (curious-motivated). Dembélé's unique combination of skills made him a standout as a C player.
The journey to greatness was far from smooth for Dembélé. After joining Barcelona in 2017, he struggled with injuries and inconsistency, scoring only 24 league goals over six seasons at the club. His most memorable moment came in the 2019 Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, when he missed a crucial one-on-one opportunity.
When Dembélé finally left Barcelona, amid criticism of his underperformance, it was seen as a welcome relief for all parties. However, it marked the beginning of an incredible resurgence. Last season, Luis Enrique's plan to replace Kylian Mbappé's goals with Dembèle's proved prophetic, as the Frenchman became the main man.
Dembélé's transformation is largely down to his exceptional qualities – qualities that were present at 17 and still evident today. His vision, movement, pace, control, and positioning set the tone for Paris Saint-Germain's success. While some attributes remain hard to quantify, such as team chemistry and coach-player relationships, Dembèle has consistently demonstrated a rare ability to excel under pressure.
Awards like this one are a testament to his enduring talent, hard work, and dedication. It is clear that the path to greatness is rarely linear, but for players with exceptional qualities and the right environment, anything is possible.
... no wait, I'm not so sure! I guess what impresses me about him is his ability to adapt and improve over time - that's gotta be a major key to success right? But at the same time, I'm kinda thinking he had some pretty lucky breaks and opportunities come his way. Like, getting replaced by Kylian Mbappé and then suddenly becoming the main man? That's gotta count for something... or maybe it just means he was due for a resurgence? 
I gotta say, Ousmane Dembélé's journey from a talented youth prospect to becoming the world's best male player is crazy inspiring 
. He's definitely one of those players who was always destined for greatness, but it's impressive how he's been able to adapt and improve his game over time 
. I mean, who needs technical ability alone when you've got resilience, creativity, and a willingness to learn? 
The fact that he's still learning and growing at 25 is a testament to his dedication and work ethic 
. Of course, there have been some setbacks along the way, but Dembélé's always bounced back stronger 
. It just goes to show that with the right environment and support, anyone can achieve their dreams 
.
Still gives me chills thinking about it. Dembélé's journey is a great reminder that greatness doesn't happen overnight, and with the right support and mindset, anyone can achieve amazing things. 
but its clear that he's got the heart of a lion 
and the talent to back it up. i love how he's finally found his groove at psg with luis enrique's team, it just goes to show that when you find the right fit, anything is possible 
. It's intriguing to note how his transformation from an unfulfilled youth prospect to a dominant force on the pitch can be attributed to a combination of exceptional talent, strong work ethic, and adaptability. The Guardian panel's recognition of his resilience and ability to thrive under pressure is well-deserved 
. What's interesting is how Dembélé's unique playing style, which was initially categorized as C player in Thomas Tuchel's system, has ultimately led to his success 
.
. 219 experts can't all be wrong about Dembélé being the best player in the world? That's just too many people to be misled. And what about all those injuries and inconsistencies at Barcelona? How does that not count for something? 
. This award is well-deserved, and I'm hyped to see what the future holds for this talented Frenchman 
. Dembélé's unique combination of skills, paired with his willingness to learn and adapt, has made him a standout player in the football world 
️.
. What bothers me is that awards like this don't always give us a clear picture of player development... maybe we're just giving credit where credit isn't due? 
I guess it just goes to show that even if you're not perfect from the start, you can still work hard and improve. But don't we need to consider other factors like team performance too? Like, how much did PSG contribute to Dembélé's success? 
. I mean, people always talk about Mbappé, and he's amazing too, but Dembélé's growth has been insane 
. Awards like this one prove it 
. He's an absolute gem on the pitch and I'm loving watching PSG dominate with him leading the charge 
he's literally come so far from being an unfulfilled youth prospect to dominating on the pitch 
The fact that PSG was able to turn him around and make him their star player is no surprise, though. He's always had this special something that sets him apart. 
️ His ability to rise above criticism & keep pushing himself is something we can all learn from 
Can't wait to see what he does next! 
. I mean, what about players like Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappé who have consistently dominated the pitch for years? Dembélé's stats don't quite stack up to theirs, if you ask me 
. Still, credit where credit is due - he's definitely shown some serious growth and leadership qualities on the field 
.