Nine years ago, Ousmane Dembélé was doing what he's doing now: wrecking Ligue 1. But back then, he was an 18-year-old playing for Rennes.
It was his first season as a pro, and he was on his way to scoring 12 goals and assisting five more in fewer than 2,000 minutes. One particular reporter was baffled in the same way that all of France's defenders were.
"Are you right-footed or left footed?" he asked.
"Hmmm," Dembélé paused. He didn't even seem to know. "Left-footed."
"Are you sure? Because you also score with your right foot."
"Yeah, I'm more left-footed."
"Don't you shoot penalties with your right foot?"
"Hmmm," another pause. "Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because I shoot better with my right foot."
Nearly a decade later, playing for his fourth team after moving between clubs for a combined €220 million in transfer fees, he lined up for a penalty against Liverpool at Anfield. This time, it looked like was going to use his left foot -- before he shuffled to the other side of the ball, stepped up and planted the ball into the upper corner with his right.
Minutes later, PSG became the first team to ever knock Liverpool out of the Champions League after losing the first leg at home. And they did it, in large part, because Dembélé finally fulfilled the promise of that ambipedal teenager who sent France spinning nine seasons ago.
Right now, I'm confident that Ousmane Dembélé is the best soccer player in the world. Here's why.
