As part of Bet9ja’s World Cup special markets, we’re putting some of the tournament’s biggest stars head-to-head and asking one simple question: who will score more goals?
Just days after facing each other in the UEFA Champions League Final, where Ousmane Dembele helped PSG defeat Bukayo Saka’s Arsenal, the pair are now set for another battle – this time on the international stage.
The market is simple:
- Ousmane Dembele – 1.50
- Bukayo Saka – 2.40
Both players arrive at the World Cup in strong form, but who is more likely to finish the tournament with the higher goal tally?
The Case For Bukayo Saka
At first glance, Saka’s price is immediately appealing.
The Arsenal star has already shown he can perform on the World Cup stage, scoring three goals in four appearances at Qatar 2022. In fact, those three goals already place him among England’s leading World Cup scorers despite being just 24 years old.
England’s group could also work in his favour. Panama, Ghana and Croatia all look vulnerable defensively compared to some of the elite nations in the tournament, and Saka is expected to start every game on the right wing.
The Three Lions have also been one of the most consistent tournament teams in world football, reaching the latter stages of recent World Cups and European Championships. More games generally means more opportunities to score.
With Harry Kane often attracting defensive attention centrally, Saka should find plenty of space to attack from wide areas.
The Case For Ousmane Dembele
On paper, Dembele’s World Cup record is surprisingly poor.
Despite playing 11 World Cup matches across 2018 and 2022, the Frenchman is still waiting for his first goal in the competition.
However, this is not the same player.
Dembele heads to North America as the reigning Ballon d’Or winner after the best season of his career. Luis Enrique’s decision to move him into a more central attacking role at PSG transformed him from an inconsistent winger into one of Europe’s most devastating forwards.
His return of 35 goals and 16 assists helped PSG win Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Champions League, and he arrives at the World Cup brimming with confidence.
France’s attack is stacked with talent, but Dembele is now one of the focal points rather than a supporting player.
Form vs Tournament History
This market creates an interesting clash between current form and previous World Cup production.
Saka has already demonstrated he can score goals at the tournament, while Dembele has yet to open his World Cup account despite playing 11 matches.
Yet Dembele is undoubtedly entering the competition in the better goalscoring form. The Frenchman has developed into a far more clinical finisher over the last 18 months, while Saka’s role for England often sees him create as much as he scores.
Verdict
There is a reason Dembele is the favourite.
The Frenchman looks like a completely different player compared to the one who featured at the last two World Cups, and his transformation into a central attacking threat has dramatically increased his goalscoring output.
However, Saka at 2.40 is difficult to ignore. He already has three World Cup goals to his name, England’s group looks favourable, and he remains one of the most important attacking players in Thomas Tuchel’s side.
If you’re backing proven World Cup production, Saka offers value. If you’re backing the hottest attacker in world football right now, Dembele is the obvious choice.
