Paris St Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is set to miss around six weeks with a hamstring injury, while teammate Desire Doue faces four weeks out due to a calf problem, the European champions confirmed on Saturday.
Both players sustained their injuries while on international duty during France’s 2-0 win over Ukraine in World Cup qualifying on Friday in Poland. Doue was forced off at halftime and replaced by Dembele, who himself limped off in the 81st minute.
“Ousmane Dembele has suffered a serious injury to his right hamstring. He is expected to be unavailable for around six weeks,” PSG said in a statement. “Also picking up an injury during the encounter, Desire Doue suffered a strain in his right calf and will be out for around four weeks.”
Key Absences for PSG
Dembele, 28, has been a standout performer for PSG, emerging as one of the favourites for this year’s Ballon d’Or after helping the club to a historic treble last season, including their first-ever Champions League title, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup.
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He scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign.
The double blow leaves PSG with a thinner attacking line-up ahead of a congested schedule. The French champions host Lens in Ligue 1 on 14 September before opening their Champions League title defence against Atalanta three days later. They will also face Olympique de Marseille and Auxerre later in the month, ahead of a high-profile Champions League clash with Barcelona, Dembele’s former club, on 1 October.
France continue their World Cup qualifying campaign on Tuesday when they host Iceland in Group D, but they will now be without two key attacking options.
