Lionel Messi's greeting to Ousmane Dembélé after winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or

Ousmane Dembélé was the main protagonist of the 2025 Ballon d'Or gala in Paris. PSG's forward, who established himself after winning the UEFA Champions League and surpassing Lamine Yamal in the voting, used his speech to thank those who shaped his career, with a special acknowledgment to Lionel Messi.

"I learned during my time in Barcelona alongside great players like Andrés Iniesta and Lionel Messi. That learning experience was exceptional," the Frenchman said about his time at the Catalan club.

The Argentine star replied quickly. From Miami, Messi used his Instagram account to congratulate him publicly: "Great Ous! Congratulations, I'm very happy for you. You deserve it." The message went viral within minutes.

Dembélé and Messi shared the locker room in 95 official matches with Barcelona, where the Frenchman went through difficult periods due to injuries and criticism. At the gala, the forward recalled what he learned from those moments: "I've learned a lot from my past mistakes, such as the injuries at Barcelona. Now I'm more serious and focused, thanks to advice from mentors like Messi. This Ballon d'Or is proof that perseverance pays off."

Meanwhile, the bond with Messi was once again evident after their meeting at the Club World Cup, when PSG defeated Inter Miami 4-0 in the round of 16. After the match, both were photographed together and the Frenchman wrote on his social media: "So good to see you again, Leo, the greatest of all time... I hope you keep making history with Inter Miami as you did in this Club World Cup."

That day, in addition, Dembélé took Messi's jersey and boots as a souvenir, and celebrated reuniting with former teammates such as Jordi Alba, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano, and even Pepe.