ESPN's Ryan O'Hanlon crowns Dembélé world's best player ahead of Ballon d'Or

Ousmane Dembélé is the world’s best player. That’s the verdict of Ryan O’Hanlon, a journalist at ESPN, who placed the PSG forward at the top of his personal Top 10 published just weeks before the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

O’Hanlon does not deny the physical limitations of the French star. “I know Dembélé cannot handle the same workload as other players on this list. He has only played 2,000 minutes in the league once in his career, and that was with Borussia Dortmund ten years ago,” he acknowledges. But for the American journalist, this fragility does not erase what matters most: “It may be the price Dembélé has had to pay to be the most complete forward of our era.”

His argument rests on the rare versatility of the former Barcelona player: “He is an elite goalscorer, a chance creator, a dribbler, a passer, and he presses at an exceptional level — regardless of his stronger foot. He can play in any system and in every attacking position.” His conclusion is unambiguous: “As long as Dembélé is healthy, I don’t think there is anyone better than him in the world.”

Recent statistics lend credence to this analysis. Dembélé finished the World Cup with 6 goals and 2 assists to his name, before playing a decisive role in PSG’s new triumph in the Ligue des Champions — the second consecutive title for the Paris club. O’Hanlon even calls him the “best player on the second team in history to win two consecutive Champions Leagues.”

As the defending Ballon d’Or holder, Dembélé finds himself in the rare position of seeking his own succession. The question of his physical availability over time remains the main argument his detractors could raise against a second crown.