<p>When soccer icons are mentioned, certain names immediately resonate:&nbsp;<strong>Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a></strong></strong>. Legends whose careers were defined not just by their brilliance, but by the rarest kind of achievement. Now, in 2025, another name has been added to that company.&nbsp;<strong>Ousmane Dembele’s latest triumph has elevated him into a club of only ten players in the history of the sport</strong>, a distinction so unique that even <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, Johan Cruyff, and Ronaldo Nazario never touched it.</p>



<p>The journey, however, has been anything but straightforward. From injury setbacks and doubts over his professionalism, to redemption in Paris with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/psg/">PSG</a>, the Frenchman has finally carved his name into soccer folklore.</p>



<p>The Theatre du Chatelet in Paris once again hosted the Ballon d’Or gala, soccer’s most prestigious individual awards ceremony. On this glittering night,&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ousmane-dembele/">Ousmane Dembele</a> was named the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner</strong>, while Barcelona’s&nbsp;<strong>Aitana Bonmati claimed the women’s title for the third year running</strong>.</p>



<p>For the 28-year-old, the award capped a season of transformation.&nbsp;The Frenchman delivered&nbsp;<strong>35 goals and 16 assists across 53 matches</strong>, spearheading PSG to a historic quadruple that included Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and, most importantly, the club’s first-ever Champions League.</p>



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<h2>From flop to false nine</h2>



<p>Just a year earlier, Dembele’s future looked uncertain. He was briefly sidelined by Luis Enrique due to disciplinary issues. But when Kylian Mbappe departed for Real Madrid, the Parisians’ coach handed him a new role — as a central forward. It proved to be career-defining.</p>



<p>Once known primarily for dazzling dribbles and assists, Dembele became ruthless in front of goal. He not only thrived in the Champions League, contributing&nbsp;<strong>14 direct goal involvements in just 15 matches</strong>, but also showed maturity with his pressing and defending in PSG’s 5-0 final victory over Inter. The player once labeled as a media “flop” at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">Barcelona</a> had been reborn in Paris.</p>



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<h2>Completing the holy trinity</h2>



<p>But the Ballon d’Or alone was not the story. With this victory,&nbsp;<strong>Ousmane Dembele joined an exclusive club of just ten players in soccer history to achieve what many call the sport’s “holy trinity” — winning the Ballon d’Or, the Champions League, and the World Cup.</strong></p>



<p>The Frenchman lifted the World Cup with France in 2018. He finally claimed the Champions League with PSG in 2025. And now, the Ballon d’Or.</p>



<p>The list of players who completed the treble is astonishing: Bobby Charlton, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Paolo Rossi, Zinedine Zidane, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Lionel Messi… and now Ousmane Dembele.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>#</th><th>Player</th><th>Nationality</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1.</td><td>Bobby Charlton</td><td>England</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>Franz Beckenbauer</td><td>Germany</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>Gerd Muller</td><td>Germany</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>Paolo Rossi</td><td>Italy</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>Zinedine Zidane</td><td>France</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Rivaldo</td><td>Brazil</td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td>Ronaldinho</td><td>Brazil</td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td>Kaka</td><td>Brazil</td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Argentina</td></tr><tr><td>10.</td><td>Ousmane Dembele</td><td>France</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Not even Cristiano Ronaldo managed it: Ousmane Dembele makes history with rare feat, joining Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldinho among few

Not even Cristiano Ronaldo managed it: Ousmane Dembele makes history with rare feat, joining Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldinho among few - World Soccer Talk

destacadas

<p>Marcus Rashford’s long-anticipated move to&nbsp;<strong>Barcelona</strong>&nbsp;was expected to mark the beginning of a fresh chapter in his career. After a turbulent period at&nbsp;<strong>Manchester United</strong>, the&nbsp;<strong>England international</strong>&nbsp;joined the Catalan giants on a&nbsp;<strong>season-long loan</strong>, with an option to buy for<strong><strong>&nbsp;$35 million</strong></strong>&nbsp;next summer. The forward called the transfer a&nbsp;<em>“dream move”</em>—but almost immediately, his dream was met with a dose of cold reality.</p>



<p>It didn’t take long for one of the club’s most revered figures,&nbsp;<strong>Rivaldo</strong>, to weigh in. The&nbsp;<strong>2002 World Cup winner and Ballon d’Or recipient</strong>&nbsp;issued both encouragement and a blunt reality check for Rashford. While the Brazilian legend&nbsp;<strong>backs the Englishman to succeed at the Camp Nou</strong>, he also made it clear that&nbsp;<strong>there would be no shortcuts to stardom</strong>.</p>



<p><em>“He’s got everything it takes to shine, especially with the top manager he’ll have by his side. That will really help with his development,”</em>&nbsp;Rivaldo said in a recent interview.<em> “He’s a fantastic player, no doubt about it. Definitely a brilliant signing.”</em></p>



<p>But the Brazilian was quick to temper expectations. Rashford may be a marquee name, but that doesn’t guarantee him a place in the starting eleven—<strong>especially not in a squad coming off a title-winning season.</strong></p>



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<p><em>“Barcelona had a great season last year, so it’s normal for him to start off on the bench,”</em>&nbsp;Rivaldo added.&nbsp;<em>“Little by little, he’ll find his rhythm, understand how the manager wants the team to play, and gradually settle in. Over time, he’ll earn his spot.”</em></p>



<h2>The harsh Raphinha reality</h2>



<p>Then came the&nbsp;<strong>bad news</strong>: Rashford will not be walking into the team at the expense of&nbsp;<strong>Raphinha</strong>. The Brazilian winger had an&nbsp;<strong>extraordinary 2024/25 season</strong>, tallying&nbsp;<strong>34 goals and 25 assists in 57 appearances</strong>. According to Rivaldo, Raphinha is&nbsp;<strong>untouchable</strong>.</p>



<p><em>“I think it’s highly unlikely that Rashford will take Raphinha’s spot,”</em>&nbsp;Rivaldo stated bluntly.&nbsp;<em>“In my view, Raphinha is currently among the top five players in the world.”</em></p>



<p>He continued: <em>“Right now, he’s an undisputed starter at Barça and already a club icon. Everyone—the players, the coaching staff, the whole club—rates him very highly. What he did last season was outstanding. That position is his.”</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250725_WST_580904_Raphinha-4-1200x675_2e209ac7.webp&amp;width=650&amp;height=365" alt="Raphinha" class="wp-image-566765" width="650" height="365" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/23120434/Raphinha-4-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/23120434/Raphinha-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/23120434/Raphinha-4-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/23120434/Raphinha-4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/23120434/Raphinha-4-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/23120434/Raphinha-4-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/23120434/Raphinha-4-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/23120434/Raphinha-4.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Rashford’s road back to relevance</h2>



<p>Rashford, now&nbsp;<strong>27</strong>, is trying to rediscover the form that once made him one of the Premier League’s most electrifying players. He enjoyed a stellar 2022-23 campaign but&nbsp;<strong>saw his form nosedive</strong>&nbsp;afterward. Last season, he was sent on&nbsp;<strong>loan to Aston Villa</strong>&nbsp;after clashing with United’s manager&nbsp;<strong>Ruben Amorim</strong>. Upon his return, he found himself&nbsp;<strong>isolated from first-team training</strong>, effectively closing the door on his Old Trafford career.</p>



<p>Rivaldo acknowledged the challenges Rashford has faced, but believes a change of scenery could reignite his fire. <em>“He left a club in a tough situation and joined a team like Barcelona. It’s only natural the coach will want to assess him over time. But he’s a hugely talented player and an international. I fully expect him to earn a place in Barca’s starting XI and re-establish himself in the England squad too.”</em></p>

Marcus Rashford gets immediate reality check at Barcelona – And it involves 2025 Ballon d’Or contender Raphinha

Marcus Rashford gets immediate reality check at Barcelona – And it involves 2025 Ballon d'Or contender Raphinha - World Soccer Talk

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<p>At age 22, Zinedine Zidane was playing in the Intertoto Cup with Bordeaux. At that same age, Éric Cantona had just got a move from Auxerre to Marseille. Rivaldo had just moved from Corinthians to cross-town rivals Palmeiras in São Paulo.</p>
<p>With the money involved in today’s game and globalized scouting networks, such players would already have been with one of the European giants before they had the chance to establish themselves in their local teams. It’s hardly a surprise when the major European clubs get linked with and buy an obscure teenager in South America, who is tagged as the “new Messi” or “Ronaldinho’s heir.”</p>
<p>But potential doesn’t always translate to development. Equally still, little promise can develop exponentially.</p>
<p>Zidane, Cantona, and Rivaldo’s cases show that it’s not how much you achieve in your early 20’s that defines the rest of your career. These players all stayed in familiar surroundings before making the step up to a major European club. It was only until their mid-to-late 20’s that these players became giant names in world football.</p>
<p>Of course, there are always precocious youngsters who make the grade early on. Perhaps because their game relies on speed, like the two Ronaldo’s or Messi. Perhaps because their physique develops more quickly, like Rooney.</p>
<p>But early spark doesn’t always illuminate the rest of a career. Nicky Butt anchored the midfield for Manchester United in the 95/96 season with Roy Keane and that partnership always came out on top in physical battles. Paul Scholes, who had a much smaller frame than Butt and was frequently deployed further up the pitch, was sparingly used. Today, Nicky Butt plays for Newcastle United, Paul Scholes for Manchester United.</p>
<p>Lucas Leiva is 22 and is already at Liverpool. It is presumptuous to say he will be as successful as Scholes, Zidane, Rivaldo, Cantona, or even Nicky Butt. But to say he won’t turn out to be fine player is equally unfair. He has been thrust on the biggest stage earlier than some of the greatest midfielders of their generations. He has already played in a Champions League quarterfinal, captained Brazil’s U-20 team, finished runner-up in the league with Liverpool, and been capped for the senior Brazil national team.</p>
<p>For us to label him as a flop is premature. A player doesn’t have to progress at Messi’s rate to become a world class player. Lucas deserves time and Liverpool fans should wish the best for him, however much he may struggle now or in the coming years. He is only 22 and already plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world. He is certainly on the right track.</p>
<p>Alfredo di Stéfano was 27 when he crossed the Atlantic to join Real Madrid. When he was voted European Footballer of the Year for the second time, he was 33. The next year, he won the last of five consecutive European Cups with Real Madrid. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Where was he before joining Real Madrid? Colombian football.</p>
<p>Even the greatest need time to develop at their own rate. So does Lucas.</p>


Lucas Leiva Is Not a Flop, At Least Not Yet - World Soccer Talk

Lucas Leiva Is Not a Flop, At Least Not Yet

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Lucas Leiva Is Not a Flop, At Least Not Yet