Ousmane Dembélé enters the France vs Spain match in the 2026 World Cup semifinals on Tuesday evening, living the best period of his football career, having transformed from a player plagued by injuries and criticism during his years with Barcelona into one of the world's top football stars and the leader of the French attack.

Dembélé hopes to lead his national team to the final and spoil the dreams of the Spanish team, in a match that holds a special significance for him against the country where he experienced the toughest stages of his professional career.

Difficult memories in Barcelona

Dembélé spent six seasons wearing the Barcelona shirt between 2017 and 2023, after joining from Borussia Dortmund in a massive transfer worth 145 million euros, to be the successor to Brazilian Neymar following his move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite winning three La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey titles, the recurring injuries deprived the French player of delivering his best levels, as he missed 144 matches and only scored 40 goals in 185 appearances, ending his Catalan experience with the impression that it did not live up to expectations.

The transformation with Paris

The real turning point in Dembélé's career began with his move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, where coach Luis Enrique gave him more freedom on the pitch, turning him into one of the team's key playmakers.

The French star contributed to leading the Parisian club to win the Champions League, before continuing his brilliance and winning the Ballon d'Or for the best player in the world, becoming one of the most prominent global football stars.

A decisive element with France

This development was reflected in his performance with the French national team, as he transformed from a substitute player in the 2018 World Cup into one of the main pillars of coach Didier Deschamps' lineup during the 2026 World Cup.

Dembélé, alongside Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise, forms one of the most dangerous attacking lines in the tournament, having scored five goals so far, confirming that he has become one of the most influential players in the 'Roosters' campaign.

Dembélé has received great trust from his coach Didier Deschamps, who stuck with him despite the criticism he faced in previous periods.

Deschamps said after Dembélé scored his first goal in the tournament against Iraq: 'I trust Ousmane a lot, he is a decisive player and has the quality the team needs. All he needed was to adapt to his new role.'

A date with redemption

Dembélé enters the match against Spain knowing that it is a perfect opportunity for redemption against the team representing the country where he did not have his best days as a player.

The Paris Saint-Germain star said after qualifying for the semifinals: 'I feel very comfortable in this position, and I am gradually improving during the tournament. I am happy with what I am doing, but I believe I can still give more. The most important thing for me is the team, we are fully focused on our goal and we want to go all the way.'

Dembélé will be one of France's biggest trump cards in the Dallas showdown, in a match that may give him a chance to write a new chapter in his career, this time against an opponent he knows well, but returning to it in a completely different form.