Ousmane Dembele, The Bengal's Brief Metamorphosis

Possessing extraordinary football talent, Ousmane Dembele squandered it while playing for Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona. His indiscipline and unhealthy lifestyle overshadowed his great potential. However, Dembele recognized his mistakes and transformed into the backbone of Paris Saint-Germain in achieving their first UEFA Champions League trophy in history.

PSG's success in making history by winning the Champions League on Sunday (1/6/2025) in the early hours of WIB cannot be separated from Dembele's impressive performance in the front line. Under the guidance of Coach Luis Enrique, Dembele has become a source of terror for opposing defenses. His maneuvers often trouble the opponents' defense. In addition, Dembele is considered a player who is very skilled at dribbling. His work ethic in pressing the opponent's defense when not in possession of the ball is always a concern.

The departure of megastar Kylian Mbappe has brought a unique blessing for Dembele. Coach Luis Enrique is attempting to fill the void left by Mbappe by giving Dembele greater responsibility as the spearhead.

The way to do this is by placing Dembele in a more fluid position. He is given the freedom to comb the flanks while also acting as a false nine. Dembele's false nine role, coupled with the movement of his teammates, has become the core of PSG's attack this season.

Thanks to the change in position, Dembele's goal tally increased rapidly.

Thanks to this positional change, Dembele's goal tally has increased significantly. This season alone, Dembele has recorded 33 goals and 15 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions. His goal and assist collection is vastly different compared to last season when Mbappe was still present. Dembele, who played more as a winger, only managed to score 6 goals and provide 14 assists from 42 appearances.

"Last season, we saw him playing as a winger. Now we see him taking on more of a role as a number nine, and that is something beneficial and makes us all happy. However, what is surprising is his constant movement in the penalty area. He is always in the right place, allowing him to receive the ball and score with one touch," said Enrique, as quoted by RMC Sport.

Who would have thought that behind Dembele's explosive performance this season lies a dark story of indiscipline? A few seasons ago, before joining PSG, Dembele struggled with an unhealthy lifestyle and was fined for frequently being late to team meetings. Behind his great talent, Dembele is no different from a rebellious footballer who acts on his own accord.

Starting his football career at Evreux FC, Dembele has already shown glimpses of his talent while playing football against children from the surrounding area of La Madeleine, a poor district in the city of Evreux, west of Paris. His ball control is exceptional, far surpassing that of children his age. He is able to use both feet equally well when kicking. His dribbling skills are also impressive.

Rennes talent scout Armand Djire is someone who knows how much potential Dembele has.

Dembele's talent has attracted interest from major local clubs. It did not take long for both Le Havre and SM Caen to submit offers. However, Rennes won the competition to acquire Dembele by offering assistance to his family. Rennes scout, Armand Djire, is someone who understands how promising Dembele's talent is. He spent a considerable amount of time observing his development.

From Rennes, Dembele spread his wings to the Bundesliga. He accepted an offer from Dortmund in 2016. Together with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus, Dembele formed a formidable trio by winning the DFB-Pokal. Dembele was also named the best newcomer in the Bundesliga.

With all his achievements, Dembele was reluctant to stay longer at Dortmund. Realizing that he was being pursued by major European clubs, Dembele ultimately accepted the offer to join Barca.

Everything has not gone smoothly for Dembele at Barca. He has been plagued by injuries repeatedly, ranging from thigh issues, knee tendon problems, to hamstring injuries. All of this has been exacerbated by an unhealthy lifestyle and his tendency to play video games until the early hours. As a result of his gaming obsession, Dembele has repeatedly been late to team meetings and has faced fines.

Struggling with a poor lifestyle and an addiction to gaming, Dembele's turning point in life occurred in 2021. Specifically, when he married his partner, Rima Edbouche, in Morocco. From this marriage, Dembele and Rima were blessed with a daughter.

Entering into marriage, starting a family, and becoming a father have changed Dembele's mindset. This significant change occurred during his last two seasons at Barca. Encouraged by his agent, Moussa Sissoko, Dembele hired a chef, Anthony Audebaud. He began to eliminate soda and fast food from his diet. Instead, Dembele started to regularly consume freshwater fish, grouper, free-range chicken, and vegetables.

It is clear that if you don't work hard, you can't enjoy football.

In addition, Dembele also hired a personal fitness coach who is a former elite sprinter, Salah Ghaidi. He also employed the services of physiotherapist Jean-Baptiste Duault. Duault was hired because he was deemed successful in addressing the injury issues that frequently plagued Dembele.

“It is clear that if you don't work hard, you can't enjoy football,” Dembele said of his lifestyle changes, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

Despite being given the opportunity to prove himself, Dembele ironically ended his time with Barca. In 2023, Dembele was attracted by the allure of PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who promised him a role as a local figure in a young team eager for achievements with a strong French identity. A decision that Dembele may ultimately never regret. At PSG, he rediscovered his sharpness.

Former Barca Coach Xavi Hernandez once stated that Dembele is a great player if utilized correctly. Xavi's words may soon become a reality. Dembele is currently being touted as a contender for the Ballon d'Or award due to his contributions in leading PSG to their first-ever Champions League title.

Born: Vernon, France, May 15, 1997

Nationality: French

Position: Right Wing

Club: Stade Rennais (2015-2016)

Borussia Dortmund (2016-2017)

Barcelona (2017-2023)

Paris Saint-Germain (2023-present)

Achievements: Spanish League Champion (2018, 2019, 2023)

French Ligue 1 top scorers (2024-2025)

Champions League Winners (2024-2025)

French League Champion (2024-2025)