Ousmane Dembélé, the French national team striker, left Spain without leaving a notable mark during his six seasons with Barcelona (2017-2023), plagued by recurring injuries and inconsistent form. However, three years after his departure, joining Paris Saint-Germain turned him into a completely different player, and he will try to prove that on Tuesday when the Bulls face off in the 2026 World Cup semi-final. Dembélé enters the highly anticipated match on Tuesday against the European champions, holding the Ballon d'Or for the best player in the world, after contributing to leading PSG to their first Champions League title last season, and then leading them to retain the European crown this season. Despite some flashes of brilliance and winning three La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey titles, the player, who is now one of the most prominent stars in the French attack, did not leave a lasting legacy on the other side of the Pyrenees. Undoubtedly, the number 7 secretly dreams of being the one to dash Spanish hopes in this World Cup edition, a sweet revenge after the difficult periods he experienced in the Iberian neighbor. This scenario does not seem far-fetched given the new standing he has achieved with PSG and the pivotal role he currently plays in the national team, after many years spent in secondary roles. Dembélé is no longer that striker who was perceived as completely unaware of the demands of the highest level, criticized for his lack of professionalism and inability to translate his immense talent into consistent performance. He arrived in Catalonia in August 2017 from Borussia Dortmund at just 20 years old, in a massive 145 million euro deal, with the daunting task of replacing the Brazilian Neymar after his departure to PSG. However, Dembélé missed 144 matches for Barcelona due to various injuries and physical problems, and ended his tenure with relatively modest statistics (40 goals in 185 matches across all competitions), in a career described as a wasted opportunity. With the French national team, the Rennes academy graduate also needed a long time to establish himself. Despite winning the World Cup in 2018 as a substitute, he failed to convince observers in the following years, at a time when Kylian Mbappé, two years his junior, was capturing the global spotlight. The real turning point in his career came with his move to PSG in the summer of 2023. There, Spanish coach Luis Enrique gave him the keys to the team and complete freedom to play in a hybrid role that combines right winger, playmaker, and false nine. The success was remarkable, as his two successful Champions League campaigns (2025 and 2026), along with winning the Ballon d'Or in 2025, finally earned him a place among the game's elite. To complete this transformation, he also had to become a key figure in the French national team, which he achieved during the 2026 World Cup. At the age of 29, Dembélé (65 international caps and 12 goals) has become one of the leaders of 'Les Bleus,' forming a terrifying attacking trio alongside Mbappé and Michael Olise. After failing to score in all four previous knockout rounds he played in major tournaments with France before this World Cup, he now has five goals in the current tournament, silencing all his critics. Didier Deschamps never gave up on him; in fact, he defended him strongly, which contributed to his brilliance during the current World Cup campaign, within the 1-3-2-4 attacking system adopted by the coach. Deschamps said after Dembélé's first goal against Iraq in the group stage (3-0) on June 22 in Philadelphia: 'There is no problem with Ousmane. He just needs to readjust to a system where he doesn't play all season. I trust him. He doesn't doubt himself. He is a decisive player. Ousmane has this ability. This is good for him and for the French national team above all.' After reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive time, Dembélé appears at the peak of his form, ready to ruin the summer of Spanish fans. He said after the 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarter-finals on Thursday: 'It's exceptional. I feel very comfortable in this position that I know well. I'm improving gradually during this tournament. I'm happy with my performance even though I can give more. But the most important thing is the team. We are focused on our goal, and we will try to go all the way.'