Luis Enrique Endorses Ousmane Dembele For Ballon D'Or Following PSG's Champions League Triumph

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Paris Saint-Germain's coach, Luis Enrique, has expressed his belief that Ousmane Dembele should be awarded the Ballon d'Or. This comes after Dembele's significant role in PSG's historic Champions League victory. On Saturday, PSG claimed their first European championship by defeating Inter 5-0 in Munich, marking the most lopsided final in the competition's history.

Desire Doue scored twice for PSG, with Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Senny Mayulu also finding the net. Despite not scoring himself, Dembele provided crucial assists for both Doue and Kvaratskhelia. His performance earned high praise from Luis Enrique following the match.

"Everyone is concerned about who I would give the Ballon d'Or to," Luis Enrique told reporters. "I would give the Ballon d'Or to Ousmane Dembele for the way he defended in this final. That's what you call leading a team."

Enrique further emphasized that Dembele deserves the award not only for his titles or goals but also for his defensive efforts throughout the season. His exceptional pressing during the final was particularly noteworthy.

Dembele became the first player since Marcelo in 2018 to provide two assists in a Champions League final. In that year, Marcelo helped Real Madrid secure a 3-1 victory over Liverpool. Additionally, Dembele's 14 goal involvements (eight goals and six assists) this season are second only to Karim Benzema's 17 in 2021-22 among French players.

Throughout all competitions this season, Dembele scored 33 goals and contributed 13 assists. Among players from Europe's top five leagues, only Mohamed Salah (57), Raphinha (56), Harry Kane (49), and Kylian Mbappe (48) surpassed Dembele's total of 46 goal involvements.

The coach highlighted that Dembele has consistently demonstrated leadership qualities by defending effectively and contributing significantly to PSG's success. This consistency was evident throughout the season but shone exceptionally during the final match.

The remarkable achievements of Ousmane Dembele this season have sparked discussions about his potential as a Ballon d'Or contender. His ability to assist teammates while maintaining strong defensive play underscores his value to Paris Saint-Germain.