The Ballon d'Or was awarded in Paris at the end of September, and the winner is Ousmane Dembélé. The Frenchman from Paris Saint-Germain capped off a season in which he and his club won the Champions League, among other titles. In the women's category, the award went to Aitana Bonmatí of FC Barcelona for the third time in a row. The trophy for the best young player went to Lamine Yamal once again.
From talent to world footballer
Dembélé was considered one of Europe's greatest talents from an early age. However, his career was long characterized by injuries and inconsistent form. Last season, under coach Luis Enrique, he found a new role as a central striker and became the decisive player for a team that dominated Europe.
The special ability: two strong feet
What distinguishes Dembélé from almost all other players is his ability to use both feet. He shoots, crosses, and dribbles just as well with his left as he does with his right. Even experts find it difficult to say which is his strong foot. For defenders, this is a nightmare: they cannot force him onto one side because he is equally dangerous in both directions.
Why being two-footed is so valuable in the penalty area
In the penalty area, there is often only time for one touch. A ball that comes to the "wrong" foot is a lost opportunity for most players. They first have to shift the ball to their strong foot, and in that half-second, the defender is there. A two-footed player, on the other hand, shoots immediately, regardless of which side the ball comes from. This is an enormous advantage, especially for volleys and first-time shots.
Can you learn to be two-footed?
Talent certainly plays a role. How much of Dembélé's ability is natural gift and how much is training is hard to tell from the outside. But one thing is clear: no one becomes so confident with both feet without countless repetitions. Anyone who trains both feet early and consistently can achieve a lot. And even those who start later can significantly improve their weak foot.
Five exercises for the weak foot
- Wall passes: Spend ten minutes daily playing against a wall using only your weak foot.
- Juggling: Alternate left and right, later using only your weak foot.
- Dribbling: Run through a cone course using only your weak foot.
- Low shots: Aim precisely for the corners from a short distance, without using much power.
- Volleys: Start with a stationary ball at a low height and gradually increase the difficulty.
The volley with the weak foot
The volley is the most demanding technique for the weak foot. It requires the standing leg, torso, ankle, and timing to work together perfectly, and that is precisely what is particularly difficult with the unfamiliar foot. At the beginning, it helps to keep the conditions as simple as possible. A ball that lies calmly at a fixed height gives you the chance to concentrate entirely on the movement.
With the VOLLEYCHAMP®, you can practice exactly that. Start at 10 cm, shoot ten volleys with your weak foot, and only increase the height once seven out of ten balls go cleanly on target. This is how you build, step by step, a volley you can rely on even with your weak foot.
Patience pays off
Improving your weak foot takes time. Progress does not happen overnight, but over weeks and months. But those who stick with it will be rewarded—perhaps not with a Ballon d'Or, but with more goals, more self-confidence, and more joy in the game.
Congratulations to Ousmane Dembélé, Aitana Bonmatí, and Lamine Yamal!
