Arya News - Ousmane Dembele is having the time of his life at the moment. The Frenchman is coming on the back of a stellar campaign that saw him help PSG secure the elusive UEFA Champions League and the treble.De...
Will Dembele win the Ballon d’Or this year? (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
“Thanks to that, PSG became European champions. We all defended, we all attacked. Luis Enrique created a strong group, where no one is above the team,” he added
While PSG indeed defended well, it was Dembele’s attacking supremacy that helped PSG win the treble.
The attacker notably scored 33 goals in all competitions while racking up 15 assists in just 49 matches – making him the biggest rival of Lamine Yamal going into the Ballon d’Or gala this year.
Talking about Lamine Yamal, the forward heaped praise on the Barcelona sensation, stating, “Lamine was already being talked about at Barcelona from a very young age. “
“ When he arrived at the first team, we understood he was exceptional. In training, he dribbled, assisted, and scored. He took on a whole new dimension,” he added.
Regarding the Ballon d’Or race, Dembele said: “It’s hard to say. But winning the Ballon d’Or as a footballer is obviously the holy grail on an individual level. It’s something you dream about as a kid.
“I remember watching Telefoot as players appeared to receive it. It was incredible. The object alone, the ball, is exceptional.”
Continuing, he added: “I hope to be among the thirty nominees, for starters. I’ve had difficult years with injuries and weak performances as well. This season I think I’ve been consistent, so we’ll see what happens.
“It would be exceptional to have my name on the list. And being one of the favourites is a great victory, although I hope to win it one day.”
Dembele, meanwhile, also talked about the influence Lionel Messi has had on his game.
“I grew up watching Barcelona, and of course, Lionel Messi is the greatest for me. He is a player who inspires me, unique. I am so happy and proud that I played with him,” he concluded.