The curse of the Ballon d'Or strikes again: Dembélé fails as
By OnzeActu · · 7 min read

France, led by Ousmane Dembélé, recent Ballon d'Or, was eliminated by Spain in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup. This disappointment continues the series: no Ballon d'Or winner has ever won the world title in the year of his distinction. A milestone in the history of football which recalls other big names who remained powerless in their global quest.
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Context
Ousmane Dembélé, after winning the Ballon d'Or, saw his World Cup dream disappear in the semi-final. This journey is reminiscent of those of legends like Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, who, despite their individual successes, failed to conquer the world title. The pressure will now be on Dembélé to prove his worth on the pitch, especially as the next international competitions approach.
Why it matters
France's elimination by Spain in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup highlights a troubling trend for Ballon d'Or winners. Ousmane Dembélé, as a recent winner, joins a list of great players who failed to win the world title in the year of their distinction. This historic curse highlights the challenges that even the best players face on the international stage.
Key points
- The curse of the Ballon d'Or strikes again: Dembélé fails as.
- France led by Ousmane Dembélé, recent Ballon d'Or, is eliminated by Spain in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup.
- Ousmane Dembélé remains central to Frankrijk's plans.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to write its legend, and now, Ousmane Dembélé joins, despite himself, in a famous but little envied list. The French winger, recent winner of the Ballon d'Or, saw the Blues' adventure end in the semi-final, defeated by a strong Spanish team. An elimination which extends a surprising series: never in the history of football has a holder of the Ballon d'Or managed to lift the World Cup in the same year.
This scenario repeats the fate reserved for big names in football. Before Dembélé, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, both Ballon d'Or winners before a World Cup, had failed to win the most coveted trophy in international football. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, icons of a generation, also had to come to terms with this strange fate during their years of individual coronation.
The most famous case probably remains that of Roberto Baggio. Crowned Ballon d'Or, the Italian symbolized bad luck: during the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil, he missed the decisive shot on goal, letting the world title slip away. More recently, Karim Benzema, winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2022, had to abandon the World Cup at the last moment following an injury, unable to break the curse.
Image
The legend of the cursed Ballon d'Or has its roots in the very beginnings of the award. In 1956, Stanley Matthews was the first winner, but it was his successor Alfredo Di Stéfano who could have opened this list but failed even to qualify for the 1958 World Cup with Spain, after having already had other selections with Argentina and Colombia.
This observation maintains the legend: shining individually offers no guarantee of collective triumph at the highest world level. As a result, eyes turn in each edition towards the Ballon d’Or which carries on its shoulders the hope of overcoming this stubborn fate. In 2026, Ousmane Dembélé will therefore be no exception.
The 2026 World Cup thus delivers its share of stories and records, but the “curse of the Ballon d’Or” remains. To follow the entire competition schedule, results, statistics and the latest news on the tournament organized in Canada, Mexico and the United States, go to our page dedicated to the 2026 World Cup.
The rest
With the end of the French adventure at the World Cup, Ousmane Dembélé and his teammates will have to focus on the future and the next competitions. France, with its talent, will seek to bounce back and prepare for the next events, in particular the qualifications for future tournaments. Dembélé's performances will be closely scrutinized as he aspires to continue to excel at club and international level.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Ousmane Dembélé during the 2026 World Cup?
Ousmane Dembélé saw the Blues' adventure end in the semi-final, defeated by Spain.
Who confirmed Dembélé's failure at the 2026 World Cup?
The article mentions that Dembélé, recent winner of the Ballon d'Or, failed at the 2026 World Cup.
Why is the Ballon d'Or curse relevant now?
The curse is brought to light as Dembélé, as Ballon d'Or winner, failed to win the World Cup, continuing a historic streak.
What changes have taken place in the history of the
winners of the Ballon d'Or and the World Cup?
No Ballon d'Or winner has managed to win the World Cup in the same year, a trend which continues with Dembélé.
Which other players failed to win the World Cup after winning the Ballon d'Or?
Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Roberto Baggio are other players who have experienced this curse.
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