Freshly crowned with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Ousmane Dembélé has confirmed his exceptional form on the international stage during the World Cup. The French forward particularly made an impression with a standout performance, capped off by a hat-trick against the Norway national team.
This turnaround comes after a rocky start. He faced heavy criticism following the opening match against the Senegal national team, with some observers questioning his place in the starting eleven. But that pressure quickly faded thanks to his subsequent performances.
In the second outing for the Blues against the Iraq national team, Dembélé already showed a sharper side, being both a scorer and an assist provider. This rise in form peaked in the next match, where he delivered a top-level performance.
Before this match, the winger had only six goals in 62 appearances. But against Norway, he completely transformed, scoring three high-quality goals, becoming only the third player in the history of the French national team to net a hat-trick in a World Cup match. This performance has fully revitalized his status within the squad.
This display sparked numerous reactions in the football world, notably from Roger Milla, who was particularly impressed by the level shown. In comments relayed by L’Équipe, he praised the French forward’s return to form: “What I liked about this French team? It’s Dembélé’s comeback,” the Cameroonian enthused in the columns of L’Équipe. “What a hat-trick against Norway!”
The former Cameroon international went even further in his analysis, suggesting that the Parisian player could now aim for the highest individual honors. He stated: “He is the favorite for the Ballon d’Or and France is one of the favorites for the World Cup, as long as there are no misunderstandings among the players.” However, he tempered his remarks by mentioning other serious contenders for the world title, specifically citing Argentina and Brazil.
🚨 Roger Milla 🇨🇲: “I THINK DEMBÉLÉ 🇫🇷 IS THE FAVORITE FOR THE BALLON D’OR. 🌕
AND THAT FRANCE 🇫🇷 IS ONE OF THE FAVORITES FOR THE WORLD CUP. 🏆”
🗞️ @lequipe pic.twitter.com/FLuLXUGjG3
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) June 29, 2026
In the debate surrounding the Ballon d’Or, the competition remains fierce. In England, some observers continue to place Harry Kane at the top of the favorites, bolstered by his impressive performances with Bayern Munich. In this unofficial ranking, Dembélé, however, holds a prominent position thanks to his decisive impact for both club and country.
With European confirmation and a breakout in the national team, Ousmane Dembélé is now establishing himself as one of the most influential players of the season, at the heart of discussions about the biggest individual honors in world football.
