Ousmane Dembélé, the 28-year-old French forward, will be out of action until after the Ballon d’Or ceremony, which is slated for September 22nd. Widely regarded as a leading contender for the individual accolade, Dembélé sustained a hamstring injury during Les Bleus` 2-0 victory over Ukraine on Friday evening. Paris Saint-Germain has confirmed that he is expected to miss approximately six weeks, pushing his potential return date to mid or late October.
On first impression, Dembélé`s injury, occurring merely two weeks before the Ballon d`Or is awarded, might seem to jeopardize his chances. Lamine Yamal, the young talent from Barcelona, is frequently cited as the primary rival to the former Borussia Dortmund, Stade Rennais, and Barcelona winger for this prestigious award.
However, Dembélé`s current injury is not expected to influence his prospects for the Ballon d`Or. According to the official rules governing the award, the designated “reference period” for consideration spans from August 1st, 2024, to August 2nd, 2025. Consequently, all competitive matches played during the 2025/26 season will not be included in the assessment for this particular award, ensuring his current form prior to the injury remains relevant.
