Heartbroken runners-up in 2022. As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins, France are once again positioning themselves as serious contenders — and Ousmane Dembélé is embracing the challenge with renewed purpose.
Fresh off a career-defining 2025, the Paris Saint-Germain forward and newly crowned Best Men’s Player believes the United States could be the stage for redemption after the agony of Qatar.
“We know what it takes to go all the way,” Dembélé told CNN Sports after winning the Best Men’s Player Award at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai. “We have a mission in the United States. We’ve been talking about this World Cup for a long time, and I think we’ll be ready.”
A new France, familiar ambition
The France squad heading to North America will look very different from the one that fell just short against Argentina in the 2022 final. Veterans Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud have moved on, making way for a new generation under Didier Deschamps.
Dembélé, now 28, is set to be one of the team’s leaders alongside Kylian Mbappé.
“There’ve been a lot of changes,” he said. “But we have very talented players who’ve adapted well. France will always play a leading role at tournaments like this — you’ll have to count on us.”
France face a tricky group, including Norway’s Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, but it’s the opening match that carries deep personal meaning: a June 16 clash with Senegal at MetLife Stadium.
Born in France to parents with roots in Senegal, Mauritania and Mali, Dembélé says the draw sparked plenty of playful reactions.
“People told me to score an own goal — literally!” he laughed. “There are several of us who are Senegalese and French. It’s going to be a very beautiful match.”
A life-changing year
Individually, 2025 marked a turning point. Dembélé was central to PSG’s domestic dominance, finishing as Ligue 1’s top scorer as the club secured a domestic double.
In Europe, he elevated his game further — eight goals and six assists in 15 Champions League matches as PSG stormed to their first-ever Champions League title, sealing it with a commanding 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the final.
The accolades followed: the Ballon d’Or, the FIFA Best Award, and the Globe Soccer Award — a sweep that confirmed his place at the very top of the game.
For a player once plagued by injuries and doubts during his Barcelona years, the success was deeply personal.
“There were moments when it was very difficult — mostly mentally,” Dembélé reflected. “I had a lot to deal with. But that’s your path, your destiny. You just have to keep playing.”
Reborn in Paris
His move to PSG in 2023, coinciding with Luis Enrique’s arrival, proved transformative. Under a coach who prioritised the collective over individual stardom — especially after Mbappé’s departure to Real Madrid in 2024 — Dembélé flourished.
“Every footballer wants to be part of a team that’s collectively strong,” he said. “I take huge pleasure in this squad. Everyone matters here.”
That philosophy paid off spectacularly. PSG lifted six trophies in 2025 and began 2026 by beating Marseille on penalties to win a fourth consecutive French Super Cup.
With another Champions League campaign progressing smoothly and domestic ambitions intact, the hunger remains.
Eyes on the future
For Dembélé, the message is simple — for both club and country, the work is far from finished.
“The philosophy of Paris Saint-Germain isn’t going to change,” he said. “By being a team, we can win all these trophies — like we did in 2025 — and we’re going to try to do the same in 2026.
“We want to be united. Above all, we want to be a great team.”
And with a World Cup mission on the horizon, Ousmane Dembélé looks ready to lead France once more.
Discussion about this post