Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele insists he is not getting carried away with talks about winning the Ballon d’Or this year, despite playing a starring role in the French side’s first UEFA Champions League title in May to cap a quadruple-winning season.
Many believe the Frenchman should be crowned as the world’s best player this year after inspiring PSG to an unprecedented quadruple, winning the Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France and French Super Cup this season.
“I hope to be at least among the thirty nominees. I’ve had difficult years with injuries, even with disappointing performances,” Dembele told France Football. “This season I think I’ve done well, so we’ll see what happens. It would be exceptional to see my name on the list. And being one of the favourites is already a great victory, even if I hope to win it one day.”
However, Dembele is not obsessed with the Ballon d’Or: “These are difficult things to say (aiming for the Ballon d’Or). But winning a Ballon d’Or, when you are a footballer, is obviously the ultimate on an individual level.
He added, “It’s something you dream about as a child. I remember when they broadcast it on Téléfoot, when I saw the players receiving the Ballon d’Or, it was incredible. Just the object, the ball, is exceptional.”
And on being a footballer, Dembele also commented, “Since I was little I wanted to bring joy to the people who come to the stadium. I like dribbling, but I’m also someone who helps the team a lot, who wants to score, who also scores.”
He also said, “Then, everyone thinks what they want and votes what they want. If you like Ousmane Dembele, good. If you don’t like him, life goes on. We’ll see.”