Paris Saint-Germain have been hit with a major setback after star forward Ousmane Dembele and winger Desire Doue were both ruled out with injuries sustained during France’s 2-0 win over Ukraine in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday.
The club confirmed that Dembele suffered a serious hamstring injury and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks, while Doue faces about four weeks out with a calf strain.
Dembele, one of the frontrunners for this year’s Ballon d’Or, was instrumental in PSG’s historic treble-winning campaign last season, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists across 53 appearances. His absence will be a big blow as the French champions prepare for a demanding run of fixtures.
PSG will host Lens in Ligue 1 on September 14 before beginning their Champions League title defence against Atalanta on September 17. Their busy schedule also includes clashes with Marseille, Auxerre, and a blockbuster meeting with Barcelona—Dembele’s former club—on October 1.
Meanwhile, France will continue their World Cup qualifying campaign at home against Iceland on Tuesday, but coach Didier Deschamps will be without two key attacking options.
