Ousmane Dembélé under scrutiny after France debate

Ousmane Dembélé’s place and role in France’s attack have become the subject of a fresh dispute after his latest international appearance. The Paris Saint-Germain forward was used centrally, while the team continues to operate without Kylian Mbappé, who has been injured since the meeting with Turkey.

France still defeated Belgium 4-1, but Dembélé’s performance as the No. 9 was widely judged below expectations. The 29-year-old, listed as a centre-forward for PSG and recognised as the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, is now facing questions over whether he remains the right option in the attacking hierarchy.

Television analysts offered sharply different assessments. Dave Appadoo argued that Dembélé is losing ground, with Michael Olise performing at an exceptional level and Désiré Doué showing qualities that have been missing from Dembélé’s France performances. He also viewed the player’s overall international career as below what his talent should have produced.

Giovanni Castaldi accepted that Dembélé struggled against Belgium but considered the criticism excessive. His defence focused on the demands being placed on a player deployed as a striker, arguing that Dembélé’s value cannot be measured only through goals and dribbles. The debate therefore centres on whether France should judge him by his central attacking output or by the wider contribution that made him a key player in PSG’s system.