Paris Saint-Germain winger Désiré Doué beat out Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal to win the Champions League Young Player of the Season award. This, after scoring two goals in his team’s 5-0 final victory over Inter Milan on Saturday. Both teenagers, considered among the best young players in world football, were included in the team of the season. Doué, 19, capped off an impressive campaign by setting up the opening goal in the final for Achraf Hakimi before scoring two goals. The PSG had seven players in the competition’s team of the season, while Inter, the finalist, only had one. Ousmane Dembélé of PSG was awarded the UEFA Player of the Season award on Sunday, after his season culminated in a significant role in his team’s victory in the competition for the first time.
Dembélé struggled at the beginning of the campaign, being benched by coach Luis Enrique for a league phase match against Arsenal for disciplinary reasons, but the 28-year-old scored eight goals in the Champions League after switching to a more central role.
Although Dembélé did not score in Saturday’s final in Munich, the coach highlighted his performance.
I would give the Ballon d’Or to Mr. Ousmane Dembélé. The way he defended tonight, that alone could be worth the Ballon d’Or. That’s how you lead a team. Goals, trophies, leadership, defense, his pressure.
Luis Enrique
Champions League Team of the Season:
- Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
- Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Nuno Mendes (PSG)
- Midfielders: Vitinha (PSG), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Désiré Doué (PSG), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Raphinha (Barcelona)
