For Ousmane Dembélé, greatness wasn't always a guarantee of success. In fact, from 2017 to this year, when the young French forward made history by becoming the world's best male player, his career was marked by twists and turns that left many questioning whether he would ever reach the pinnacle.
Dembélé's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. After winning France's Young Player of the Year award in his first season as a professional, Dembélé joined Borussia Dortmund, where he became an integral part of the team that won the German Cup. However, when he moved to Barcelona, things didn't go as planned. The club changed coaches, and Dembélé struggled to establish himself in a system that wasn't conducive to his playing style.
Despite these setbacks, Dembélé continued to work on his game, and it was during this period of self-improvement that he began to develop the intangible qualities that would eventually make him one of the best players in the world. He became known for his focus, determination, and ability to press, making him a key component of Paris Saint-Germain's team.
Last season marked a turning point for Dembélé, as he finally found the freedom to express himself on the pitch. With no star player to follow, Dembélé was liberated to take charge of games, using his vision, movement, pace, control, and positioning to set the tone for PSG's success. His finishing, once considered wasteful, became ruthless.
So what makes a good player great? While we can't see some qualities, research has shown that intangible attributes like resilience, adaptability, decision-making, creativity, work ethic, response to feedback, and willingness to learn are essential. Dembélé's journey is proof that these qualities can make all the difference between being a talented player and becoming a world-class one.
As Dembélé celebrated his well-deserved prize as the world's best male player, it was clear that this award was not just for his goals and trophies but also for his dedication to continuous improvement. The path to greatness is rarely linear, and Dembélé's story serves as a reminder that with hard work, determination, and the right mindset, anything is possible.
Dembélé's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. After winning France's Young Player of the Year award in his first season as a professional, Dembélé joined Borussia Dortmund, where he became an integral part of the team that won the German Cup. However, when he moved to Barcelona, things didn't go as planned. The club changed coaches, and Dembélé struggled to establish himself in a system that wasn't conducive to his playing style.
Despite these setbacks, Dembélé continued to work on his game, and it was during this period of self-improvement that he began to develop the intangible qualities that would eventually make him one of the best players in the world. He became known for his focus, determination, and ability to press, making him a key component of Paris Saint-Germain's team.
Last season marked a turning point for Dembélé, as he finally found the freedom to express himself on the pitch. With no star player to follow, Dembélé was liberated to take charge of games, using his vision, movement, pace, control, and positioning to set the tone for PSG's success. His finishing, once considered wasteful, became ruthless.
So what makes a good player great? While we can't see some qualities, research has shown that intangible attributes like resilience, adaptability, decision-making, creativity, work ethic, response to feedback, and willingness to learn are essential. Dembélé's journey is proof that these qualities can make all the difference between being a talented player and becoming a world-class one.
As Dembélé celebrated his well-deserved prize as the world's best male player, it was clear that this award was not just for his goals and trophies but also for his dedication to continuous improvement. The path to greatness is rarely linear, and Dembélé's story serves as a reminder that with hard work, determination, and the right mindset, anything is possible.