Ousmane Dembele is heading towards the World Cup believing this season shows the best football of a career that has often been disrupted. The Ballon d'Or winner has impressed for Paris Saint-Germain and for France, and recent performances suggest Dembele is ready to play a major role on the global stage.
Despite more injury interruptions, Dembele has still produced 20 goal contributions for Paris Saint-Germain in 29 club games across all competitions. The forward has scored 12 goals and supplied eight assists, and also set up Kylian Mbappe during France's 2-1 victory over Brazil on Thursday, underlining current influence for club and country.
Those numbers highlight a level of end product that Dembele previously struggled to sustain over a full
campaign. For a player whose career has often been described through fitness issues, this period with Paris Saint-Germain offers vital rhythm before the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico during the northern hemisphere summer.
Speaking with Fox Deportes before France face Colombia in Sunday's friendly, Dembele explained how recent seasons have changed both outlook and performances. Dembele linked improved form to maturity, better decision-making and stability away from football, and suggested those factors have helped maintain consistency when available for Paris Saint-Germain and the national team.
Dembele said: "I have a lot more experience and the level I've had since last season is much better. There are many things that have changed in football or in my personal life. There are only positives, I am much calmer, much more thoughtful. I hope to maintain this level. I'm happy. I'm clearly in the best part of my career. I've gained a lot of experience, both in football and in life. I know myself, I know what I have to do. Playing in aWorld Cupisn't an everyday occurrence. It's an honour for a professional football player; it's where you find the best players and the best teams. I hope to be part of that list and to do very well at this World Cup. I'm very excited about what's to come. "
France approach the tournament after winning the 2018 edition and finishing runners-up to Argentina in Qatar in 2022. Didier Deschamps again has a deep squad filled with attacking and defensive options, and Dembele accepts expectations remain high as France target another long run at the World Cup.
World Cup pressure, France squad and Dembele on team structure
Dembele added: "We're mainly focused on ourselves. There's been a group of players who know each other for several years now. We'll need to be good as a team, above all. There's not really any pressure because we were outsiders in 2018 and we won that trophy. We were one of the favourites in Qatar too and we reached the final. We're used to all that. There's a lot of calm. There are some huge individual talents. But you can have all the best players in the world, but if you don't have a structured and united team, it's not going to work. That's what we're going to focus on most. The team comes first. We're preparing well for this World Cup and we hope to go all the way. "
The comments reflect a player who feels settled with France and Paris Saint-Germain while recognising the demands ahead. With strong form, greater experience and a familiar core around Didier Deschamps, Dembele expects France to compete again at the World Cup and aims to make this phase the defining period of a career.
