Ousmane Dembélé, now 27, has often faced criticism throughout his career, mainly concerning his finishing despite his undeniable technical skills. Luis Enrique himself has lauded the French international as “the most destabilizing player globally,” highlighting his exceptional ability to outmaneuver opponents one-on-one, a trait evident since his early days at Stade Rennais.
However, a common view held that Dembélé’s development had stagnated. Critics argued that the crucial areas needing improvement – his goal-scoring and decision-making in the final third – hadn’t progressed enough for him to be considered among the world’s best. But 2025 has become the year where the former Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona winger has demonstrably changed these perceptions.
Kylian Mbappé’s departure from PSG in the summer created an opening for Dembélé. Previously, Mbappé often played centrally, with Dembélé positioned on the right wing. With injuries to Gonçalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani sidelined, Dembélé has seen increased opportunities to play in a more central role in recent months, with impressive results.
Dembélé’s Central Role Experience
This isn’t Dembélé’s first foray into a central position. His former Rennes teammate, Gelson Fernandes, recalls, “For me, Ousmane is most dangerous as a No. 10, behind the striker. I remember a 5-2 victory against Marseille (March 18th, 2016) where he played as a No. 10 and was outstanding precisely because he is more impactful there. In this position, he is truly incisive, but he needs a No. 9 ahead of him,” Fernandes mentioned to L’Équipe.
Dembélé was tested in this central role towards the end of the previous season with varying success. Given Luis Enrique’s preference for technically gifted players in the No. 9 position, it was a logical experiment that has been repeated this season with even greater success.
Less involved in the initial build-up play compared to his role on the right flank, he has benefited from the service provided by teammates like João Neves, Desiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, and recently Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. These players have effectively found Dembélé, who has quickly developed a striker’s instinct for finding space and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. “In the center, he hasn’t scored the most difficult goals. Even I would have scored them!” joked Stade Brestois manager Eric Roy earlier this year.
However, there’s an elegance in simplicity that Dembélé himself appreciates. “Previously, playing on the right wing, close to the sideline, made scoring harder. I had to dribble past three or four players before getting a chance to score,” the Frenchman explained.
Ambidexterity as a Key Asset
This issue is less prevalent with Dembélé playing centrally, as many of his goals are now scored with first-time finishes. Here, his two-footed ability is a significant advantage. Alongside Mateo Retegui, Dembélé is unique in Europe’s top leagues for scoring over five goals with both his right foot (eight) and left foot (seven). “I don’t know if I’m left-footed or right-footed,” he famously stated before. In crucial, high-pressure moments, he is proving to be proficient with both.
Dembélé now boasts 22 goal contributions in his last 17 matches and an impressive 18 goals across all competitions since the start of the year. His most recent goal came in the 4-1 victory against Lille OSC this past weekend. “We played an excellent game against Lille. The coach instructed us to approach it with the same intensity as a Champions League or Ligue 1 match, and we took it seriously. This approach led to the result,” Dembélé told Get French Football News.
He added, “We are very pleased. We are aware of the challenging game ahead (against Liverpool) on Wednesday, but we aimed to continue our strong run (undefeated in Ligue 1 this season). We had to be focused against Lille to secure the three points.” Dembélé was recently awarded the UNFP Player of the Month for January, and he and PSG teammate Achraf Hakimi are also nominated for the February award.
Confidence Boost for Champions League Clash
The victory against LOSC, especially its convincing nature, boosts the confidence of Dembélé and PSG as they prepare for their UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool. However, Liverpool also enters the match with high confidence. Similar to PSG, the Merseyside club holds a 13-point lead at the top of their league and topped their Champions League group stage.
Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool’s standout player this season, with an impressive 52 goal contributions, including 30 goals, four more than Dembélé this season. The two players are set to face off at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, in a match that is not only a contest between two of Europe’s top-performing teams but also a clash between two leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or.
“Given his current form, he shouldn’t limit himself,” Mbappé told L’Équipe, referring to Dembélé’s recent and surprising emergence as a clinical No. 9. “He needs to continue this way, and by the end of the year, he’ll have plenty of watches,” joked the France captain, alluding to a bet Dembélé made with a friend where more goals translate to more Patek and Rolex watches. Should he maintain his current trajectory, Dembélé could acquire more than just luxury watches by year-end. Trophies are within reach. Another Ligue 1 title? Almost certain. Another Coupe de France? Likely. A Champions League title and even the Ballon d’Or? These are more challenging but certainly not impossible for Dembélé and PSG, as they gear up for their toughest test of the season.