Messi congratulates Dembélé on winning the Ballon d'Or | OneFootball

The Frenchman was awarded in Paris after a consecrating season at PSG and recalled the advice received during his time at Barcelona, while the Flea did not miss the opportunity to send him a warm congratulations.

In a Théâtre du Châtelet full of gala, Ousmane Dembélé lifted his first Ballon d'Or and put the golden touch to a dream season. At 28 years old, the PSG forward reached the top after winning five titles with Luis Enrique's team, where he shone as a figure in the Champions League and the European Super Cup. His numbers back him up: 53 games, 35 goals, and 16 assists.

The recognition had a special echo for Argentine football. From Miami, Lionel Messi was quick to congratulate him with a warm message on social networks: "Big Ous!!! Congratulations, I'm very happy for you. You deserve it". Quite a compliment, given that the Argentine, owner of eight Ballon d'Or, was key in the formation of the French attacker during his time at Barcelona.

The link between both began in 2017, when the Catalan club paid 150 million euros to secure the young promise emerged in Rennes and Borussia Dortmund. They shared a locker room for four and a half years, where the Rosario native became a reference for a Dembélé who was dealing with recurrent injuries.

The European champion himself recalled on several occasions that stage: "I had a very good relationship with Messi from the first day. My locker was next to his and he gave me a lot of advice. For me he is the greatest, someone unique. I am proud to have played with him".

Between 2017 and 2021 they played 95 games together, accumulating almost 5,000 minutes on the field and participating in 15 combined goals. Messi transmitted discipline and work habits that the Frenchman incorporated over time. "He told me to be serious if I wanted to achieve my dreams. I started to observe everything he did on the field", he said in an interview.

Now, turned into the most outstanding player on the planet, Dembélé did not forget those advices. In his speech in Paris, he pointed out: "I have learned a lot from my past mistakes, like the injuries at Barcelona. I am more serious and focused thanks to mentors like Messi. This Ballon d'Or shows that perseverance pays off".

The Parisian night, on the same stage where Messi was honored on eight occasions, was marked as the highest point in the career of the PSG attacker. And from a distance, between mates and relaxation in Miami,

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.