Ousmane Dembélé has officially landed the number one spot in ESPN’s new ranking of the “top football players in the world right now,” leaving superstars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé in his wake. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner is getting called “the most complete attacker of the current era,” but here’s the kicker: this dude only played 22 Ligue 1 matches last season. So, how do you get crowned the best in the world when you’re physically fragile and not exactly the most reliable player on the pitch? PSG fans have to be feeling some serious anxiety about that.
The “Most Complete” Player Who Can’t Stay Healthy?
It’s a wild juxtaposition, right? Dembélé gets all the praise for being the “most complete attacker,” yet the source also flags his physical frailty. Twenty-two matches in a full season is a tough pill to swallow for a guy ranked number one, and it certainly makes you wonder about the reliability. You’ve got to be on the field to make an impact, and while his talent is undeniable, that health record is a red flag big enough to fly over the Parc des Princes. For PSG, looking to defend their Champions League title, Dembélé’s availability is going to be the absolute biggest question mark heading into the 2026-27 season.
Yamal’s Rise and Kvaratskhelia’s Champions League Dominance
Right behind Dembélé sits FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal at number two. This 19-year-old is already a La Liga winner and has a FIFA World Cup gold medal with Spain, which is just insane at his age. While he put up solid numbers last season with nine goals and 13 assists, ESPN still points out he’s got “plenty to work on” and is “unlikely to win the Ballon d’Or this season.” Then there’s PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at number three. If you weren’t familiar before, you sure were after he scored 10 goals and added seven assists in the UEFA Champions League last season. He was a major reason PSG defended that Champions League title, and the article even hints he might be a Ballon d’Or favorite if Georgia had qualified for the World Cup. Having two of the top five players in the world,Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia,definitely bodes well for PSG’s ambitions.
The defense of PSG’s Champions League title kicks off on September 9 at the Parc des Princes, as they host Slovan Bratislava. For PSG to snatch that third consecutive Champions League title, Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia have got to stay healthy and return to their absolute best form, especially by the second half of the season. If they can pull that off, it’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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