Virgil van Dijk
April 2026
Virgil van Dijk gave a blunt verdict on Liverpool’s exit, saying PSG deserved to go through after winning both legs and eliminating the Reds 4-0 on aggregate. Liverpool lost 2-0 at Anfield with Ousmane Dembele scoring twice, and Van Dijk said effort alone was not enough because Liverpool failed to convert pressure into goals. He also admitted he was in a bad place mentally straight after the elimination.
Paris Saint-Germain
April 2026
Liverpool were eliminated from the Champions League after a 2-0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, with Ousmane Dembele scoring twice to send PSG through 4-0 on aggregate. The result capped a miserable stretch for Liverpool after recent domestic setbacks. Dembele struck in the 72nd minute and again in stoppage time, both from Bradley Barcola assists. Liverpool improved after the break but still could not score, and Hugo Ekitike suffered an apparent Achilles injury in another blow for Arne Slot’s side.
Niko Kovac
April 2026
Niko Kovac has openly admitted Borussia Dortmund do not currently have the kind of game-changing stars that defined previous eras at the club. He named Sancho, Haaland, Dembele and Reus as examples of the missing extra quality, while still backing his current squad and saying they are doing a good job. Speaking at a panel event hosted by Reiner Calmund, Kovac said Dortmund are missing players with “that extra something” but stressed he is happy working with the current group and wants to improve with them. The comments come amid fresh outside speculation over a possible Sancho return, though that part remains transfer talk rather than a confirmed deal
Ousmane Dembélé
January 2026
PSG thrashed Marseille 5-0 in Le Classique to go top of Ligue 1, with Dembélé scoring twice including an outside-of-the-foot strike being touted online as a possible Puskas contender. PSG built a dominant win with an own goal credited to Facundo Medina plus goals from Kvaratskhelia and Lee, while Dembélé’s second came after driving in from the right and finishing with a creative outside-foot shot. Post-match he said PSG are “back” and aiming to win everything in the run-in.
Ousmane Dembele
December 2025
Dembele was named Best Male Player at the Globe Soccer Awards, completing a clean sweep of 2025 honours after also winning the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s Best men’s award. His 35-goal 2024-25 season powered PSG to their first ever Champions League title in dominant fashion. The winger finally delivered on long-hyped potential, driving PSG through a ruthless knockout run that included three Premier League scalps before a 5-0 demolition of Inter in the final. Although injuries have disrupted his current campaign, his peak level over the last year convinced voters he was the outstanding player in world football.
Kylian Mbappe
December 2025
Frank Leboeuf argued that PSG’s long-awaited Champions League title only became possible once Mbappe, Messi and Neymar had departed, insisting the previous superstar trio lacked collective balance, with three forwards and “eight other guys” leaving the club more like an all-star showcase than a cohesive team. Praising Luis Enrique’s decision to rebuild around work rate and tactical discipline, Leboeuf said removing untouchable stars allowed a true system to emerge, turning PSG into “the best team in the world” within months, and compared the dangers of overloaded frontlines to Real Madrid’s early-2000s Galacticos era.
Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)
November 2025
Ousmane Dembele lasted under half an hour. He thought he had equalised before VAR caught a marginal offside, then pulled up clutching his thigh. He left the pitch in visible frustration as PSG replaced him with Bradley Barcola. The cancelled goal flipped momentum and PSG’s attack lost width and penetration immediately after. Bayern defended compactly and denied counter attacks. Dembele’s ongoing availability remains a concern as PSG juggle European load and domestic fixtures.
Paris Saint-Germain
October 2025
Ousmane Dembele has resumed full training after a right hamstring layoff and could face Strasbourg. Desire Doue is back from a calf issue. Others including Joao Neves and Bradley Barcola remain in rehab while Marquinhos is ruled out.
Luis Enrique regains wing thrust and rotation flexibility as PSG manage minutes to avoid setbacks. Medical staff will stage returns, aiming to stabilise form in Ligue 1 and Europe during a congested stretch.
Olivier Giroud (France)
September 2025
Olivier Giroud admitted he never foresaw Ousmane Dembele winning the Ballon d’Or, despite his talent. Dembele’s resurgence at PSG, capped by 35 goals and a Champions League triumph, convinced critics he deserved football’s top individual honor after years of struggles at Barcelona. Giroud highlighted that Ballon d’Or winners need both talent and team success, noting Dembele’s form peaked at the right time with PSG’s historic quadruple. He called it a season where Dembele “had everything”—fitness, consistency, and trophies—that finally fulfilled his long-questioned potential.
