Paris – Just months after realizing a career peak by claiming the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Ousmane Dembélé’s playing time has been severely curtailed by recurring injury issues, casting a shadow over his future performance for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The winger’s triumph followed a stellar season where he spearheaded PSG’s domestic dominance and Champions League victory, contributing 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances.
The irony of Dembélé’s situation lies in the timing: achieving the sport’s highest individual honour while concurrently battling a persistent physical setback. while receiving the Ballon d’or, Dembélé was already in recovery from a hamstring injury, a condition that has plagued his career since 2018, sidelining him for dozens of matches. This latest setback raises concerns about his ability to maintain the form that earned him the award and contribute consistently to PSG’s ambitions.
Dembélé’s return to the pitch following the Ballon d’Or ceremony has been limited. He has featured in only five matches - three in Ligue 1 and two in the Champions League – without completing a full 90 minutes in any of them.
His most recent injury occured during PSG’s match against Bayern Munich on November 5th, forcing his substitution in the 25th minute. the nature of the injury is currently under evaluation,with uncertainty surrounding whether it is a recurrence of the existing hamstring issue or a new problem. The club has yet to announce a recovery timeline, leaving questions about Dembélé’s availability for crucial upcoming fixtures and perhaps impacting his 2025/26 season.