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Top 10 Fun Facts about Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for France national team and the Spanish club Barcelona. 

He was born on 25th May 1997 in Vernon, Eure, Normandy. His mother is of Mauritanian-Senegalese origin while his father is a Malian.

Dembele is one of the highly talented players of his generation, with the ability to use both legs, he is a very resourceful player who attacks from both sides of the wings.

1. He Started his Footballing Career as a Young Boy

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Ousmane Dembele’s passion to play football started in his early years as a small boy, like many French boys of African origin of his generation, football was his game of choice.

While growing up French national football team had several star players of African descent, including Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, and Christian Viera.

This played a big role in the young Dembele’s resolve to become a professional star footballer.

Dembélé started his career at Madeleine Évreux at the age of 7, where he spent 5 years before moving to Évreux. He later moved to Évreux FC 27 at the age of 12.

2. Dembele Started his Professional Career at Renee Football Club

Every big football player starts his career at the club’s youth academies, Dembele was not an exception as he was brought to Renee youth set up from Evreux at the age of 14. He spent four years playing for the Renee youth team.

He first featured for Rennes’s reserve side as a 78th-minute substitute in the Champion de France Amateur, on 6th September 2014.

on 6 September 2014, Dembélé made his senior debut for Rennes’ reserve side in the Championnat de France Amateur, and on n 6th September 2015, he made his professional debut for Rennes’ first team in Ligue 1 against Angers football club.

3. Ousmane Dembele Played for France in the 2018 World Cup

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It is a dream for every football player to play in the Fifa football world cup, the second most popular event in the world after the Olympics.

Dembélé received his first call-up to the senior France national team squad to face Italy and Belarus in August 2016 after two players of the national team withdrew due to injuries.

On 17 May 2018, he was named on the list of the 23-man French squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. On 9th June 2018, Dembele played for the first 70 minutes in the FIFA world cup match against Australia.

He then played against Peru and Denmark before coming in as a substitute for Mbappe in the quarter-final match against Uruguay. Dembele was an unused substitute in the final against Croatia. France won 4-2.

4. Dembele is Eligible to Play for Four National Teams

Ousmane Dembele plays for the French national team. But he is also eligible to play for Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania.

He is eligible to play for Mali because it is his Father’s country of birth. Dembele is also eligible to represent Senegal or Mauritania as they are his mother’s countries of origin.

5. He can Play on Either Flank of the Pitch

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One thing that makes Dembele a very resourceful player to his club and the National team, is his technical ability to use both legs with utmost ease.

Being a wing player, Dembele can play on either flank of the field with speed and agility he can get past opponent defenders in a one-on-one situation.

Dembélé can also operate as a left or right-sided attacking midfielder.

6. Ousmane Dembele has Played in Three Major European Leagues

There are five major leagues in Europe, English premier league, Italy Seria A, German Bundesliga, Spanish La Riga, and France league 1. Ousmane Dembele has played in three of them. 

He started his professional career in the French league1, where he played for the Renee football club. Making 26 appearances and scored 12 goals.

On 12th May 2016, Dembélé signed a five-year contract with the German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. He made 32 appearances and scored six goals for the German club.

He joined Spanish La Riga giants Barcelona in 2017 and stayed with the club for five league seasons, where he appeared 102 times and scored 19 goals.

7. Dembele Racism Allegations

In July 2021, Ousmane Dembele and his fellow teammate Antoine Griezmann were accused of racism after a leaked video showed him ridiculing a local Asian technician in a Japanese hotel room.

The incident occurred in 2019 when Barcelona was on a pre-season tour in Japan. Dembele and his teammate later apologized for their inappropriate behavior.

Barcelona team officials also stated the incident and promised to take unspecified internal disciplinary action against the players.  

8. Ousmane Dembele Keeps his Personal Life out of Limelight  

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Unlike most professional football players, Ousmane Dembele keeps his personal life away from the limelight. There is little information about his parents or siblings in the public domain.

His marriage details are a secret from his followers and football fans across the globe. So there is very little known about his wife.

9. Ousmane Dembele is of Muslim Faith

Ousmane Dembele presents himself as a true Muslim in the public and his personal life. 

His parents are of the Muslim faith, and Ousmane Dembele celebrates Eid with his family. He also expressed his gratitude to all believers of Islam all over the world during the celebrations of Eid.

His religious values were observed in his wedding ceremony. Where Muslim values were followed, and Muslim religious norms were observed at all levels.

10. Ousmane Dembele Married a Moroccan

Ousmane Dembele is married to Rima Edbouche, a Morrocan girl from the Berber family of Douar Aghbalou, near Guelmim in southwestern Morocco.

She was born in Castelfranco Veneto, in northeastern Italy, and grew up in France, where she is still pursuing university studies.

The wedding ceremony was celebrated in a traditional Moroccan way, with the bride wearing a traditional Moroccan dress.