Ousmane Dembélé opened up about the personal congratulatory message he received from Lionel Messi after winning the Ballon d’Or. The French winger, who played a pivotal role in PSG’s historic treble-winning season, revealed how Messi’s words, along with messages from his former Barcelona teammates and PSG colleagues, left a lasting impact.
Ousmane Dembélé has spoken emotionally about the direct message he received from Lionel Messi following his Ballon d’Or victory earlier this week. The French winger, who has been in scintillating form for Paris Saint-Germain, claimed the prestigious award after leading the French giants to their first-ever Champions League trophy, along with a treble that included the Ligue 1 title and UEFA Super Cup.
While many thought the Ballon d’Or race would be closely contested between Dembélé and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, the final voting made clear that Dembélé’s 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances were more than enough to secure his place as the world’s best player.
In a recent interview with France Football, Dembélé revealed that the congratulatory message from Messi “really struck” him. The pair’s shared history at Barcelona was evident, as the Argentine sent a personal note to the Frenchman, offering his heartfelt congratulations.
“One message that particularly struck me? It was Lionel Messi. He sent me a direct message. There was Xavi Hernandez (his former coach at FC Barcelona), a lot of (former Barça players). Luis Suarez… they were happy for me. Those from PSG? I had them by message. Achraf (Hakimi), the coach, Luis Campos, all that,” Dembélé shared.
Messi Celebrates Dembélé’s Achievement
Messi, who won the Ballon d’Or a record seven times, also shared his happiness for Dembélé publicly. On Instagram, the Inter Miami star wrote: “Grande Ous!!! Congratulations, I’m so happy for you. You deserve it.”
A Dream Season for Dembélé
The 2024-25 season was a landmark one for Dembélé, who flourished under Luis Enrique’s management. The Frenchman’s contributions were pivotal as PSG clinched their first-ever Champions League trophy. Their treble triumph also included a thrilling penalty shootout victory over Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup, although they were denied glory in the Club World Cup by Chelsea.
With 35 goals and 16 assists, Dembélé’s numbers speak for themselves, but it was his consistent and match-winning performances that earned him the Ballon d’Or. It’s clear that the forward has established himself as one of the best in the world, and his triumph is seen as a well-deserved reward for years of hard work and dedication.
Ballon d’Or Voting Results
While many anticipated a closer contest for the Golden Ball between Dembélé and Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, the final tally saw the PSG winger finish more than 300 points ahead of his former teammate. It’s a clear sign that Dembélé’s contributions over the past year have placed him among the elite, while Yamal’s breakout season at Barcelona remains one to watch in the years ahead.
