Dembélé ignites the Ballon d'Or race.

Ousmane Dembélé has positioned himself at the forefront of the race to win the Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive time, after leading Paris Saint-Germain to a new title by scoring a goal in the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal. However, his position in the race for the award, which will be held on October 26, will also depend on his performance with the French national team in the World Cup.

Every four years, the Ballon d'Or is not determined solely by numbers and local and continental achievements, but the World Cup becomes the most influential factor in determining the identity of the winner. This is where football reaches its peak, in an event followed by billions of people around the world.

However, PSG has made a strong mark this season after achieving its second consecutive title in the prestigious continental competition, in a final that will remain etched in the club's memory. At the heart of this achievement, Dembélé has established himself as one of the team's standout stars, making him a logical contender for the most important individual award in football.

The player himself said before the final: "If we want to become top players, we need to win this kind of title more than once."

Although his teammate, Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, stole the spotlight at times this season by scoring 10 goals and providing 6 assists in 16 matches played in the Champions League, Dembélé has what supports his chances, having scored three goals against Bayern Munich in the semifinals, and then adding a goal in the final from a penalty awarded to his Georgian teammate.

It is true that the player's performance in the final was not perfect as he missed several chances, but executing the penalty at that crucial moment required great courage. That moment was a turning point in the match, as Dembélé calmly and confidently took the penalty, a trait that distinguishes great players.

The French star had previously joked: "I realized that the cameras are on during such matches"; he also played a direct role in winning the penalty after a shared pass with Kvaratskhelia, who was fouled inside the penalty area.

Scoring in a European final remains an unforgettable exceptional event, and it often has a significant impact on the race for major individual awards.

Despite recurring injuries this season, Dembélé managed to deliver very high levels when available, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 13 Champions League matches, in addition to 10 goals and 7 assists in 22 matches in Ligue 1, where he was named Player of the Season for the second consecutive time.