Messi made an astonishing gesture after Dembele won the Ballon d'Or

Ousmane Dembele disclosed the heartfelt gesture from Lionel Messi after he secured the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

Ousmane Dembele received the 2025 Ballon d'Or during the ceremony held on Monday at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris. As a key figure in PSG's Champions League triumph, the French forward expressed his gratitude for this prestigious award, while also recalling the lessons he learned while playing alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona.

That moment sparked a memorable interaction with a heartfelt gesture from Messi. In the comments under Dembele’s post, the Argentine superstar wrote: “Grande Ous. Congratulations, I’m really happy for you. You deserve this.”, accompanied by raised hands emojis in celebration. This was Messi’s way of congratulating his former teammate after Dembele won his first Ballon d'Or thanks to his brilliant performance that led PSG to the Champions League title.

Moreover, Dembele revealed that Messi was the very first to send him a direct congratulatory message, a sincere act that highlighted the historic significance of this achievement.

In an interview with L’Equipe, Dembele shared: “Who was the first to congratulate me? Messi! He sent me a direct message. Xavi and Luis Suarez also sent their congratulations. Everyone was very happy for me.”

Dembele surpassed Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal by 1,380 votes, leading by 321 points to claim the prestigious title. The 1997-born star ended the season with 35 goals and 20 assists across Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the Champions League, playing a crucial role in helping PSG achieve their first-ever treble. This is considered a defining milestone in the French forward’s career.

After moving from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona in 2017, Dembele quickly found support from Messi both on and off the pitch. With his experience, Messi imparted valuable lessons on professionalism and the lifestyle needed to reach top-tier status.

Between 2017 and 2021, both played for Barcelona, winning two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, and one Spanish Super Cup. During periods when Dembele was frequently injured and unable to fully showcase his potential, Messi was always there to encourage and support his junior teammate.

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