PSG or Barcelona Star? Journalist Reveals Potential Lionel Messi Stance for Ballon d’Or | OneFootball

PSG secured their spot in the knockout stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on Monday at Lumen Field, finishing top of their group. That victory sets up a big match against Inter Miami, led by former PSG star Lionel Messi.

Inter Miami looked set to win Group A after taking a 2-0 lead against Palmeiras, but the Brazilian side came back with two second-half goals to earn a draw and claim first place. That left Inter Miami in second, setting up the exciting clash with PSG in the next round.

Messi spent three years at PSG from 2021 to 2023 following his surprising exit from FC Barcelona. He joined forces with Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé to form a star-studded attack, but despite the firepower, PSG couldn’t get past the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, falling to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Ousmane Dembélé, Lionel Messi remain close friends

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Despite the turnover in players, there are a few players on the current PSG squad that have played with Messi, one being Ousmane Dembélé during his time at Barcelona. Moreover, the two remain close friends, but L’Equipe’s Loïc Tanzi states whether the Argentine will support Dembélé in the player’s push to win the Ballon d’Or.

“Messi and Dembélé are very close friends,” Tanzi said (via Le10port). “They still talk. Messi had deep respect for Dembélé. He always felt he was an extraordinary player, capable of playing alongside him and making him shine… Today, I’m not sure Messi would choose Yamal for the Ballon d’Or.”