The statement sent shockwaves through the football world. Speaking on RMC Sport , Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos didn’t mince his words when discussing the upcoming 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony , scheduled for September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. For the Portuguese leader, there’s no debate: Ousmane Dembélé deserves the ultimate trophy , and any other outcome would be an insult to football.
“If Dembélé were called Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, the Ballon d’Or would already be in his display case,” Campos declared, triggering a tidal wave of reactions in France and abroad.
A statistically flawless season
Campos’s arguments are based on undeniable numbers. In the 2024-2025 season, Dembélé has scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 matches , a direct contribution of almost one goal per game. Installed by Luis Enrique in a false nine role , the former Barça player has exploded all the records. Not only has he scored, but he has also shone with his tactical intelligence, his ability to press high and disrupt opposing defenses.
Named Ligue 1 Player of the Year and Champions League Player of the Year , Dembélé guided PSG to a historic treble , winning the league, the domestic cup and Europe’s most prestigious competition. For Campos, “no one, absolutely no one, has had such an impact on all fronts.”
An already controversial Ballon d’Or
Yet, despite this extraordinary season, Dembélé’s name continues to divide opinion. Bookmakers certainly place him as the favorite, but the competition is fierce: the Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal , the Parisian maestro Vitinha , or even sure values like Mohamed Salah and Raphinha .
Campos denounces a media and cultural bias : “If it weren’t for Ousmane Dembélé, if he had the aura of Messi or Ronaldo, we wouldn’t even be discussing it. Voters must assume their responsibilities: if they don’t reward him, it will be proof of their incompetence.”
These incendiary remarks quickly inflamed social media. PSG fans called for justice for their star, while others denounced a public pressure strategy just days before the verdict.
More than a player, the symbol of a transformed PSG
Beyond the individual case, Campos took the opportunity to share his vision of the new PSG. According to him, Dembélé embodies the collective project that the club is implementing: a model where ego gives way to performance. The sporting director confirmed that the French international had extended his contract under a performance-linked bonus system , a symbol of “today’s PSG.”
This policy has already cost some key players dearly: goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma , considered too demanding financially, is about to leave. Campos is categorical: “The star is the club. Not the individual.”
He also reveals that his most significant decision remains the arrival of Luis Enrique on the bench. “From the moment we met in Barcelona, I knew he was the right man. He was the one who dared to tell Neymar that he had to leave Paris. And look today: PSG is a collective machine, not a collection of individuals.”
The countdown to Paris
With the ceremony just days away, tensions are running high. On September 22 , the eyes of the world will be on Paris. The Théâtre du Châtelet could become the setting for Dembélé’s consecration… or, on the contrary, the setting for immense disillusionment.
For his supporters, there is no doubt that this Ballon d’Or would be the just reward for a rebirth . Criticized for too long for his injuries and inconsistency, Dembélé has transformed himself into a technical and mental leader.
But if the jury decides to turn its back on him, then Campos’s words will sound like a cruel prophecy: what if Ousmane Dembélé really needed to be called Ronaldo or Messi to enter the football pantheon?
