Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is facing a race against time to be fit for the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal after picking up a right calf muscle issue.
The French champions confirmed on Monday that the 29-year-old attacker is currently receiving treatment after experiencing discomfort during PSG’s 2-1 defeat to Paris FC on the final day of the Ligue 1 season.
Dembele was forced off after just 27 minutes in a move that immediately raised concerns among PSG supporters ahead of their biggest match of the season. Head coach Luis Enrique initially suggested the substitution was due to fatigue, but the club later clarified that the winger was withdrawn as a precaution.
PSG are preparing for a huge European showdown against Arsenal on 30 May at the Puskas Arena, with Dembele expected to play a key role if declared fit.
The former Barcelona star has been one of PSG’s most influential players during their Champions League campaign. He delivered a crucial contribution in the semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, scoring early in a 1-1 draw that secured a dramatic 6-5 aggregate victory for the French side.
Despite struggling with injuries earlier in the campaign, Dembele still managed to register 10 league goals and seven assists in 22 appearances. The attacker also enjoyed an outstanding previous season where he scored 21 goals and went on to win the Ballon d'Or.
His injury concerns are also likely to worry the France national football team ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup tournament.
France coach Didier Deschamps included Dembele in his latest squad announcement last week, with the PSG forward expected to form part of a dangerous attacking unit alongside Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and fellow PSG teammate Desire Doue.
France head into the tournament as one of the favourites after consistently performing strongly in recent World Cups. Les Bleus lifted the trophy in 2018 after defeating Croatia national football team 4-2 in the final.
They came close to defending their title four years later when they reached another final against Argentina national football team in one of the greatest World Cup finals in history.
That dramatic encounter finished 3-3 after extra time, with Mbappe scoring a memorable hat-trick while Lionel Messi netted twice for Argentina. However, France eventually suffered heartbreak as Argentina triumphed 4-2 on penalties to secure their third World Cup title.
France will now hope Dembele can recover in time for both PSG’s Champions League final and their opening World Cup fixture against Senegal national football team on 16 June.
