From Hamstrings to Glory: How Ousmane Dembele Outran Injury to Grab the Ballon d’Or

By: Akinde S. Oluwaseun

It was supposed to be fireworks. Barcelona paid €147 million for him fresh off a German Cup win, handed him Neymar’s No. 11, and called him the next messiah. But Ousmane Dembele? His debut was magic — a slick through-ball in his first sub appearance. Then came his first start. Crack. A torn hamstring. Four months out. Again. And again. And again.

Six seasons at Camp Nou. Three league titles. Two Copa del Reys. But the pitch? Always half-empty for him. Fourteen muscle injuries. 784 days sidelined. Just sitting there, watching, waiting — while the clock ticked and the frustration built. “Not lucky,” he’d admit. “Just… cursed.” Each comeback, another crash. The noise got louder. The whispers too. Will he ever play every week?

So when PSG stepped in for £43.5m in 2023, even some close to him shrugged. Can he stay fit? But something shifted. In Paris, the weight lifted. Suddenly, it was: 35 goals, 53 games, domestic double, and the Champions League — first time ever for PSG. 21 in the league. Eight in Europe. Knockout magic. And then — the Ballon d’Or. Not some washed-up wonder. But him. Ahead of Lamine Yamal, a kid from Barcelona’s youth ranks.

Paris, 2025. The trophy in his hands. Ronaldinho placing it around his neck. Dembele’s voice breaks. “Speechless. Nervous. Can’t believe this.” He calls it “truly exceptional” — especially coming from someone like Ronaldinho. Thanks PSG president? “A wonderful family.” Coach Luis Enrique? “Like a father.”

Funny how life flips. From benchwarming Barcelona star to Cup Winners’ kid to invisible at times… to king of Europe. The kid who once couldn’t walk without pain now holds the world’s highest prize. Not in spite of the injuries — but because he finally outran them.