Ousmane Dembélé: From Barcelona Flop to Ballon d’Or Winner

Ousmane Dembélé has traveled a long road – from being mocked as Barcelona’s problematic signing to lifting football’s most prestigious individual prize.

For years, critics laughed at him. They called him reckless with his lifestyle, careless with his home, and undisciplined with food. But when Dembélé stood on stage at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, holding the Ballon d’Or, all doubts faded.

The Season of His Life

At 28, Dembélé finally produced the season of his career. Leading PSG’s charge for a treble, he delivered brilliance that even his biggest detractors could no longer deny. As he lifted the trophy, tears flowed from his eyes, his mother’s, and his childhood best friend’s. Injuries and endless criticism had kept him from true success for years, but now he had silenced everyone.

Barcelona fans never forgave him. Signed for nearly €150 million in 2017, his inconsistent years at Camp Nou left a bitter taste. His clumsy juggling at his unveiling went viral, turning him into a meme. And when he later scored against Barça in a PSG shirt and celebrated, it was seen as betrayal.

Meanwhile, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal sat in the theater with a full entourage, convinced the Ballon d’Or should have been his. Barcelona teammate Raphinha, who finished fifth, simply smiled — he had always supported Dembélé.

Emotional Words of Thanks

“What I just experienced is unbelievable. I have no words. To receive this award from Ronaldinho, a legend of football, is truly special,” Dembélé said.

“I want to thank all the clubs I’ve played for: Rennes, where I was born as a footballer, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona — where I learned from greats like Andrés Iniesta and Lionel Messi — and now PSG, who gave me the chance to prove myself.”

Life Off the Pitch

Who is Ousmane Dembélé away from football? The truth is, little is known. He’s deeply religious, devoted to his family, and keeps his private life away from the media. Yet some stories always leaked out.

His reputation for messiness became infamous. During his Dortmund days, before his mega contracts, he left his rented apartment in such poor condition that his landlord sued him for €20,000 (he ultimately paid €10,000). Reports claim that even Jürgen Klopp once rented him a house and regretted it, while in Barcelona, teammates joked about his untidy lifestyle. Sergio Busquets recalled visiting him: “His garden was a mess — pool dirty, chairs everywhere. He just laughed it off.”

Doctors even warned him to improve his diet and habits. Dembélé was known to eat burgers and pizza after games despite PSG hiring chefs to guide him. “I know my body,” he later said. “I don’t overdo chocolate, but burgers and pizza after matches? Always.”

The Loyal Friend

Much of his personal life is tied to his childhood friend, Moussa Diatta. Diatta lived with him in Dortmund, supported him in Barcelona, and is still a constant presence. Journalists claimed Dembélé paid him €15,000 a month just to stay around, but he denied it.

The Imperfect Champion

Ousmane Dembélé is not the cleanest, most disciplined, or most professional player the sport has ever seen. But he is, without question, one of the most talented.

And when he left the Théâtre du Châtelet with the Ballon d’Or, it was proof that his story is bigger than messy apartments, junk food, or internet memes. It’s the story of a player who finally fulfilled the potential that once seemed lost.

Published by Patrick Jane
25.09.2025