Olivier Giroud on Ousmane Dembélé: “I Never Thought He Could Win the Ballon d’Or”
Olivier Giroud has made a candid admission about his former France teammate Ousmane Dembélé, stating he never saw Ballon d’Or potential in the winger during their time together with the national team.
Speaking openly, Giroud said:
“I never thought Ousmane Dembélé could win the Ballon d’Or when we played in the France national team.”
The comment, although not necessarily intended as harsh criticism, highlights the mixed perceptions surrounding Dembélé—a player long touted for his incredible talent but whose career has often been hindered by inconsistency and injuries.
Dembélé, now at Paris Saint-Germain, has shown flashes of brilliance both at club and international level. Still, Giroud’s remarks reflect a common sentiment: that raw talent alone isn’t enough to reach football’s highest individual honor.
Giroud, one of France’s most experienced forwards, played alongside Dembélé during multiple international tournaments, including France’s victorious 2018 World Cup campaign. While Dembélé has always been praised for his pace, dribbling, and ambidexterity, questions about his decision-making, fitness, and impact in big moments have lingered.
With the Ballon d’Or typically awarded to players with consistent world-class output and decisive performances in major competitions, Giroud’s comments suggest that—at least during their time together—Dembélé hadn’t yet shown the elite mentality or consistency required to be in that conversation.
Whether Dembélé can still change that narrative remains to be seen. At 28, he still has time—but the expectations are as high as ever.