Luis Enrique says PSG leader Dembele deserves Ballon d'Or

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique believes Ousmane Dembele deserves to win the Ballon d'Or after leading from the front in their historic Champions League triumph.

PSG were crowned European champions for the first time on Saturday, routing Inter 5-0 in Munich in the most one-sided Champions League final in history.

Desire Doue scored twice for Luis Enrique's treble winners, being joined on the scoresheet by Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Senny Mayulu.

But it was Dembele, who did not score but laid on assists for Doue and Kvaratskhelia, who earned lofty praise from his coach after the match.

"Everyone is concerned about who I would give the Ballon d'Or to," Luis Enrique told reporters.

"I would give the Ballon d'Or to Ousmane Dembele for the way he defended in this final. That's what you call leading a team. 

"I sincerely believe he deserves the Ballon d'Or, without a doubt, not just for the titles he won or the goals he scored, but for his pressing. 

"He's done it all season, but exceptionally in this final."

Dembele is the first player to provide two assists in a Champions League final since Marcelo for Real Madrid in 2018, in Los Blancos' 3-1 win over Liverpool. 

Meanwhile, his 14 goal involvements in this season's competition (eight goals, six assists) are the second-most by a French player in a single season, after Karim Benzema in 2021-22 (17).

In all competitions, he scored 33 goals and provided 13 assists this season. 

Among all players from Europe's top five leagues, only Mohamed Salah (57), Raphinha (56), Harry Kane (49) and Kylian Mbappe (48) bettered Dembele's 46 total goal involvements.