Why isn’t Ousmane Dembélé playing for PSG against Atalanta today in the Champions League?

Ousmane Dembélé is the odds-on favorite to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or for the first time after playing a starring role in Paris Saint-Germain’s maiden Champions League triumph. However, the former Barcelona star will be absent as Luis Enrique’s team begin their defense of the trophy against Atalanta on Matchday 1 of the 2025/26 league phase.

PSG furious with France over Dembélé and Doué injuries

PSG were fiercely critical of the French national team for allowing Dembélé and fellow attacker Désiré Doué to sustain “avoidable” injuries during the international break at the start of September.

On Sept. 7, the European champions revealed Dembélé would be out of action for approximately six weeks because of a “serious” hamstring injury. That means he will also miss the highly anticipated Champions League visit to his former club Barcelona on Oct. 1.

Doué, meanwhile, is expected to return to action a couple of weeks earlier than his teammate.

Breakthrough season for Dembélé

Despite his undoubted talent, Dembélé struggled for consistency throughout his career, particularly during his time with Barcelona. However, he enjoyed by far his best season in 2024/25, scoring 35 goals in 53 games in all competitions after being moved into a more central role by Luis Enrique.

In his seven previous seasons, the 28-year-old had only reached double figures in goals on two occasions.

Ballon d’Or showdown with Lamine Yamal

Largely thanks to PSG’s Champions League victory, Dembélé is widely expected to be awarded this year’s Ballon d’Or ahead of Lamine Yamal, the teenage sensation he briefly played alongside at Barcelona.

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