Ousmane Dembélé is currently one of the most in-form players in world football, and France is ready to capitalize on this new version of the winger, who has thrived under Luis Enrique since joining Paris Saint-Germain.

What Deschamps Said About Dembélé’s Position

“Ousmane (Dembélé) has always had great precision in all his specific work. Due to his effort, he was sometimes less sharp. Now, he is closer to the goal, playing in a more central role but with a lot of playmaking options. He is confident, and while his efficiency may not be at its peak, it is very high,” Deschamps said in a press conference.

“Kylian Mbappé likes the left wing, but he is a center forward who prefers freedom. All my attackers like to have freedom. It is not a fixed setup because the goal is to have the most dangerous offensive movement possible against opponents. Ideally, we want to place all players in their best positions, but nothing is rigid. We also need to be as unpredictable as possible for the opposition,” he added.

With this in mind, Dembélé is expected to take on a role closer to a false “9,” along with potential positional adjustments similar to those he experiences at PSG.

Dembélé’s Outstanding Season

The French forward has already scored 29 goals across all competitions. In 2025 alone, he has netted 21 goals, delivering a performance that seems almost out of this world.

To put it in perspective, Dembélé currently matches Kylian Mbappé’s tally of 29 goals for the season but surpasses him in assists 6-5. When compared to Barcelona’s Raphinha (27 goals), Dembélé edges ahead with two more goals.

France’s Upcoming Fixtures During the FIFA Break

Didier Deschamps’ squad will face Croatia in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals. The first leg is set for March 20 in Croatia, followed by the return leg on March 23 at the Stade de France.