‘I learned a lot from my injury spells at Barcelona’ – Ousmane Dembele reflects after Ballon d’Or triumph

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has opened up about the most testing moments of his career, revealing that his repeated injury setbacks during his time at Barcelona shaped him both as a player and as a professional.

Speaking to Telefoot TF1 shortly after winning the Ballon d’Or, Dembele reflected on the challenges and lessons of his journey.

Dembele, whose father is Malian and mother is of Mauritanian-Senegalese descent, said his time at Barca gave him the resilience to cope with adversity.

The 28-year-old French international endured a series of long injury layoffs after joining Barcelona in 2017 from Borussia Dortmund, struggling to stay fit during some of the club’s most turbulent seasons.

“I think it’s mainly the injuries. I had a lot of injuries, but that’s also when I learned a lot about my body, and to be much more professional as well,” Dembele told Telefoot.

“And it was especially those years at FC Barcelona, I learned a lot and grew a lot too.”

Since moving to PSG in the summer of 2023, Dembele has rediscovered his rhythm and fitness, playing a pivotal role in the club’s domestic and European campaigns.

His Ballon d’Or triumph crowns an impressive resurgence after years of setbacks that once threatened to derail his career.

Dembele’s honesty about his struggles highlights the demanding nature of elite football and the mental strength required to overcome repeated injuries.