Flashscore Player of the Month: Dembele Steps Up to Propel PSG Attack

In our latest monthly feature, Flashscore highlights some of the standout talents in international football, diving into the stats and analyses that explain their exceptional performances. For January, one player has emerged clear above the rest: Ousmane Dembele (27) from PSG.

Stepping into the limelight

Throughout his career—be it at Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, the French national team, or presently with PSG—Dembele has often found himself overshadowed by peers who have taken centre stage ahead of him.

Primarily, it’s been Kylian Mbappé at both PSG and the French team that has pushed Dembele wide to the flanks in his quest for a significant role within his squads.

Moreover, the hefty transfer fees tied to Dembele have added to the weight of expectation. With over 200 million euros in transfer fees exchanged during three separate moves in his career, the pressure to perform has been immense.

As a result, despite the hype surrounding him as a young prodigy, Dembele’s output has often failed to align with his financial valuation. Now, at 27, it appeared he was destined to continue existing in the shadows.

However, his recent performances at the start of 2025 have finally showcased the potential he has always promised.

Precision in front of goal

Since the beginning of January, Dembele has netted 11 goals across five starts, including one penalty. During his first six matches, he pulled off the remarkable feat of back-to-back hat-tricks—first in the Champions League against Stuttgart and subsequently against Brest. Surprisingly, prior to this spell, he had only achieved one hat-trick in his entire career.

His total of 11 goals becomes even more impressive when considering his history; he has only surpassed that tally once in a single season, achieving 12 goals in 26 league matches during his debut season with Rennes in 2015/16, which catapulted him into the Bundesliga.

What’s behind this phenomenal resurgence? A significant factor has been his new role in the central attacking positions. Traditionally, he has been stationed on the wings, but in recent matches, he has taken on the central role, replacing Goncalo Ramos and the currently loaned-out Marco Asensio, leading the line for PSG.

This tactical switch has invigorated Dembele—playing through the centre has not only allowed him to score, but he’s doing so at an astonishing rate. According to Opta, his expected goals (xG) in this period stands at 6.48, indicating that when he gets a shot away, he is likely to convert, having scored 11 out of 19 attempts.

‘No Equal’

His outstanding form has caught the attention of coach Luis Enrique as well.

Following his hat-trick against Brest, Enrique remarked: “He has the ability to navigate past two or three defenders, deliver crucial passes, and score. Our aim with him has always been consistent. He’s a performer who can change games…”

Enrique further stated: “Ousmane has the potential to become the player he aspires to be. If he keeps his confidence in front of goal, he is unmatched. He is capable of scoring from any position, even with his head. He’s simply phenomenal.”

The increasing faith from the coach appears to be reciprocated by Dembele. After taking the lead in the Ligue 1 scoring charts, he observed, “I’m well positioned, occupying the number nine role, and it’s my duty to score goals. It was a match where I operated just behind the defence.”

If he maintains this level of confidence for the remainder of the season, Dembele could pose a significant threat across Europe.

Ground Perspective

Dembele has admitted to feeling “better in front of goal” and “more alert.” This role is one he favours and has effectively transitioned into over the past few weeks. The Stuttgart match marked a clear turning point, as Luis Enrique formalised his position by including him prominently on the team sheet.

The outcome: a hat-trick against Stuttgart, followed by another against Brest, making him the first PSG player ever to score consecutive hat-tricks.

Yet, Dembele’s recent success is not solely down to this change in position. He has also reconciled his relationship with Luis Enrique, which had been tested towards the tail end of 2024. Where there once were concerns regarding his off-field behaviour and maturity, the former star of Barcelona and Dortmund is now demonstrating maturity, attentively adhering to his coach’s guidance and advice.

With Enrique at the helm, Dembele now understands that he can focus solely on his performance. PSG has exciting fixtures on the horizon, including a clash against Monaco on Friday, along with two matches against Brest in the Champions League.

On paper, PSG should emerge victorious in these matches, a perfect series of early tests before facing Liverpool or Barcelona in the Round of 16. If Ousmane Dembele continues on this upward trajectory, he could very well make waves in Europe’s premier competition.