Lionel Messi speaks out about the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner

Superstar Lionel Messi expressed heartfelt emotions on social media when his former Barcelona teammate, Ousmane Dembélé, was officially honored with the 2025 Ballon d'Or award.

This marks the first time in his career, the French forward has reached the highest podium of the most prestigious individual football award worldwide, surpassing many top stars like Lamine Yamal, Vitinha, and Mohamed Salah.

Right after the award ceremony, Messi posted a brief but meaningful message to Dembélé on his personal Instagram: “Grande Ous. Parabéns, estou muito feliz por você. Você merece.” (Translated: “Wonderful, Ousmane. Congratulations, I’m very happy for you. You truly deserve this.”).

This was not just a simple congratulation but also reflected the close bond between Messi and Dembélé, who played side by side at Barcelona from 2017 until Messi’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. During that period, despite Dembélé often struggling with injuries, Messi frequently defended and encouraged his younger teammate, believing he would shine in the future.

Messi’s message quickly caught the attention of fans worldwide. Many supporters felt that having a legend like Messi acknowledge Dembélé made his victory even more meaningful. Some social media comments even stated: “If Messi says you deserve it, then there’s no debate.”

With the title of Ballon d'Or 2025, Dembélé has rewritten history for French football, becoming the sixth player from the country after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinédine Zidane, and Karim Benzema to win this prestigious award. Last season, he excelled playing for PSG, contributing 33 goals and 13 assists, helping the team achieve a treble: winning Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Messi, holder of a record 8 Ballon d'Or titles, has stepped back from the personal spotlight. He is enjoying the final years of his career at Inter Miami but continues to follow his former teammates in Europe closely.

Endorsed by a living legend, Dembélé’s 2025 Ballon d'Or victory is even more convincing. Fans of Barcelona specifically and world football in general will surely remember this moment as a significant milestone in the 28-year-old’s career.

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