The Year of Ousmane: Dembélé Completes Historic Individual 'Treble' with Globe Soccer Triumph

The resurrection is complete. In the glittering surroundings of Dubai, Ousmane Dembélé didn't just accept a trophy; he certified his status as the undisputed king of world football in 2025. By claiming the Globe Soccer Award for Best Men's Player, the Paris Saint-Germain winger has achieved a 'Clean Sweep' of the sport's most prestigious individual honors, adding this latest accolade to the Ballon d'Or and FIFA 'The Best' awards he secured earlier this year.

The Statistical Evolution

While the narrative of Dembélé's career has often focused on his fragility, 2025 was defined by ruthless efficiency. The Frenchman didn't just pass the eye test; he broke the metrics. Data from the 2024/25 campaign reveals Dembélé led Europe's Top 5 Leagues with 24 assists across all competitions, serving as the creative architect behind PSG's dominance. When combined with his 18 goals, his 42 direct goal contributions provided the tangible output critics claimed he would never achieve.

This production was crucial in fending off stiff competition. While Erling Haaland continued his goal-scoring industrial complex at Manchester City and Lamine Yamal dazzled for Barcelona, neither could match Dembélé's two-way impact and trophy correlation this calendar year.

Stepping Out of the Shadows

Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this victory is who Dembélé defeated. The shortlist included his former teammate Kylian Mbappé, now at Real Madrid, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. For years, Dembélé operated in the shadow of Mbappé in Paris and Messi in Barcelona. In 2025, he stood alone as the protagonist.

In his acceptance speech, the 28-year-old alluded to the dark days of recurring hamstring injuries that once threatened to derail his career. "When things don't go the way you want, you have to work hard, and that's exactly what we did," he told the audience. It was a succinct summary of a journey that has seen him transition from a 'what if' talent to the first player since Karim Benzema in 2022 to unify the three major individual global awards.

A New Leader in Paris

The awards are also a validation of PSG's tactical shift. Under Luis Enrique's guidance, Dembélé has been granted total freedom as a 'free-roaming' number 10/winger hybrid. His ability to break low blocks—a distinct weakness in previous PSG iterations—was the difference-maker. The vote breakdown suggested a landslide victory, acknowledging not just his flair, but his newfound mental fortitude and consistency in high-pressure Champions League nights.