The hype surrounding 20-year-old French winger Ousmane Dembele was largely quelled this season after a pair of injuries kept the kid sidelined for 27 games between September and February, but it was only a matter of fitness until the train’s wheels started rolling again.
With regards to his talent, seeing is believing. In his last four league starts for Barcelona, the 20-year-old has scored three goals and registered two assists. He had his best game in a Blaugrana shirt on Wednesday against Villarreal, scoring two goals off three shots, completing 91% of his 43 passes and successfully dribbling his marker six times (Dembele, Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho combined for a staggering total of 20 dribbles on the night).
Dembele in full flight is liquid football. He combines pace, balance, vision and flair in frightening measure. If you’re a fan of the players that excel in shifting the balance of the turf war that defines all sports — think the pioneering style of Le’Veon Bell; the unsolvable James Harden; the rapid Patrick Kane — Dembele is quickly becoming soccer’s must-watch tactical disrupter.
Ousmane Dembélé should've played El Clasico and against Roma.
What a waste !#LaLiga#BarçaVillarreal
pic.twitter.com/mTfxCzOJJD— HBD Tracey (@jacksonmukunda) May 10, 2018
Hook Hook Hook Ousmane Dembele. pic.twitter.com/8BeNbPRw7i
— Sjr. (@Sakkax10) May 11, 2018
While Neymar, Messi and Eden Hazard are the three most consistent in the world today at providing a style of play that no defensive tactics can solve for, Spanish daily El Pais is reporting that Messi sees the Frenchman as his successor on the right-hand side of attack. In essence, it's only a matter of time until all good Barca things begin with the ball at Dembele's feet.
You can certainly get aggro about that sentiment since Messi, now quickly approaching his 31st birthday, is obviously the most complete attacking player on the planet. Dembele isn’t as effective in front of goal, doesn’t hold onto the ball as well and doesn’t have a similar range of passing.
In essence, he’s a lot like Messi when La Pulga was 20.
And just because Messi believes Dembele is his successor, that doesn’t mean that they’re carbon copies of each other (for example, Ivan Rakitic has successfully replaced Xavi in the heart of Barca’s midfield, but they’re obviously very different players). There’s a myriad of ways to go about disrupting defenses and pulling center backs out of position — the beauty of the game is in its variety, after all — but Dembele’s particular style is just as devastating.
To me, Dembele’s style "reminds" me of George Best (I've only watched the highlight reels). There’s something languid and imperious in the way he beats his marker, and then he’s off like a bat out of hell.
"Look at the cheek from Best" 12 years ago we lost the dribbling wizard that is George Best. #GAWA pic.twitter.com/WS59o8cuj9
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) November 25, 2017
Ousmane dembele vs Kyle walker pic.twitter.com/EQUpGG5PVB
— Jacob (@_JacobLiverpool) May 7, 2018
In the end, haggling for a comparison — regardless of whether it's Messi or Best — isn't worth getting worked up about. Dembele is a singular talent; that's what makes him special. And the fact that we get to watch him joyfully develop over the next decade is where the real excitement lies.
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