Dembele deserves Ballon d´Or regardless of Nations League results – Deschamps

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Didier Deschamps believes this week’s Nations League matches should have no bearing on the Ballon d’Or, saying Ousmane Dembele has already done enough to win the award.

Deschamps’ team will face Spain in the Nations League semi-finals on Thursday, with many onlookers believing the game could have Ballon d’Or ramifications.

At Wednesday’s pre-match press conference, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente said Lamine Yamal, Fabian Ruiz and Pedri all deserve to be in contention for the prize.

But Deschamps believes leading Paris Saint-Germain to a treble of trophies in the Champions League, Ligue 1 and Coupe de should be enough for Dembele.

“Obviously I’m with Ousmane! These things amuse the media, I don’t have them in mind,” Deschamps said on Wednesday.

“The Nations League can give some answers, the Club World Cup too.

“If I had to choose, I would say Ousmane without reservation. He can win this final four or not, but with his season, he deserves it.”

Dembele scored 33 goals and provided 13 assists for PSG in 2024-25. Among all players from Europe’s top five leagues, only Mohamed Salah (57), Raphinha (56), Harry Kane (49) and Kylian Mbappe (48) bettered Dembele’s 46 total goal involvements.

He ed 14 of those goal involvements in the Champions League, scoring eight and assisting six. That is the second-most goal contributions by a French player in a single edition of the competition, after Karim Benzema in 2021-22 (17).

Dembele was upstaged in the final – a 5-0 win over Inter – by Desire Doue, who became the first player to ever record three goal involvements in a Champions League showpiece (two goals, one assist).

Deschamps refused to draw comparisons between Doue and Spain star Yamal, saying: “Yamal is at Barca and is younger than Desire.

“Desire finished the season very well and has left his mark in the Champions League. He has his head very well set and it is his merit to be here.”

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Deschamps does not believe PSG’s attackers will have any issue playing alongside Mbappe for their national team, saying: “Throughout the season Mbappe improved a lot and is now in very good shape.

“He is going to play and be very focused, but they can exchange positions in attack.”