Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has been named UEFA Champions League Player of the Season after a standout campaign that helped propel the French club to its first-ever European title. UEFA announced the award on Sunday, also selecting seven PSG players in the official Team of the Season.
PSG capped off a historic run with a commanding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Saturday’s final in Munich. While Dembele didn’t find the net in the final, he contributed two assists and played a crucial role throughout the tournament, scoring eight goals in total. His leadership and relentless pressing earned high praise from UEFA’s Technical Observer Group.
“Dembele has emerged as a true leader for PSG,” the committee noted. “His tireless work rate in the final, particularly his pressing from the front, stood out. He consistently disrupted opponents with intelligent movement and helped control the midfield by dropping deep.”
Alongside Dembele, PSG had six other players named in UEFA’s best XI: goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma; defenders Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, and Nuno Mendes; midfielder Vitinha; and teenage sensation Desire Doue, who delivered a standout performance in the final with two goals and an assist.
The remaining four spots in the Team of the Season went to non-PSG players: Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, and Barcelona duo Raphinha (the joint top scorer) and 17-year-old Lamine Yamal.
UEFA highlighted PSG’s dynamic and fluid attacking style as a key factor in their success. “The forward line we selected reflects PSG’s exceptional mobility and positional interchange,” the report stated.
Desire Doue was also recognized as the competition’s Young Player of the Season, edging out Yamal for the honor. Although not a regular starter early in the campaign, Doue exploded in the knockout stages and was named Player of the Match in the final. He made history as the first teenager to score twice in a Champions League final.
Dembele’s individual award could influence the upcoming Ballon d’Or voting, set to take place on September 22. PSG manager Luis Enrique made his opinion clear: “I’d give the Ballon d’Or to Ousmane Dembele, simply for the way he defends.”
Dembele, along with Donnarumma, Raphinha, and Yamal, is expected to be a strong contender for football’s most prestigious individual honor.