In this video
- Asked about missing defenders and revenge for last year's semi-final loss to Spain, Konaté said in translation France have other high-quality defenders. It is not revenge, as the Euro is maybe a step above.
- Asked about Spain's attack, Konaté said in translation team cohesion will matter most. France's forwards are on par with Spain's, if not better, and will give them a run for their money.
- Asked if a player's season at Real Madrid was a success without a trophy, Konaté said in translation he thinks so. With all the pressure on him it was exceptional, and he needs his team too.
- Asked how France will deal with Yamal, Konaté said in translation he had not thought about it, calling him a football genius. He has no one-on-one tactic, so they will try to stop him together.
- Asked what France must do differently from last year's semi-final, Konaté said in translation they need cohesion and forwards who help defend. At the Euro he does not think they were efficient enough.
- Asked if the semi-final makes the Nations League matter more, Konaté said in translation it does change something. Some players have no trophy this year, and for him it would add to his career.
- Asked if the semi-final will decide the Ballon d'Or, Konaté said in translation it will not, and Dembélé has had a wonderful season. He also wanted to underline Yamal's talent.
Ibrahima Konaté lit up the Nations League semifinal press conference with a bold claim: Ousmane Dembélé deserves the Ballon d’Or — no debate.
Speaking ahead of France’s clash with Spain, Konaté said he sees being chosen for media duties as a sign of growing leadership and the coach’s trust.
He addressed injuries to Saliba and Koundé, but insisted France’s depth allows them to stay confident and defensively solid.
Asked about Spain’s threats, Konaté singled out Lamine Yamal, praising his quality — but reminded reporters that France have firepower too.
When asked to weigh in on the Ballon d’Or race between Dembélé and Lamine, Konaté didn’t hesitate:
“Just say it’s Dembélé. Period.”
He praised Dembélé’s consistent brilliance across club and country this season and said one match can’t decide the Ballon d’Or — it’s about the full season, not just a semifinal.
On Mbappé, he defended his Real Madrid debut campaign, noting his Golden Boot achievement despite the lack of trophies.
Konaté wrapped up by reaffirming that the Nations League matters — especially for players chasing silverware — and said the team’s collective mentality will define the outcome against Spain.
What Happened Next
Konaté called it correctly: Ousmane Dembélé was named the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner on September 22, 2025.
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