Ballon d’Or: I am so happy - Messi sends warm message to Dembele

Lionel Messi has congratulated his former Barcelona teammate Ousmane Dembele following the Frenchman’s Ballon d’Or victory on Monday night in Paris.

Dembele beat Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal to the award after enjoying the most productive season of his career, spearheading Paris Saint-Germain’s historic treble in 2024/25.

The 28-year-old winger was instrumental as PSG clinched Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and their first-ever UEFA Champions League crown.

Dembele finished the campaign with 35 goals and 16 assists, form that put him ahead of Yamal and other contenders for world football’s top individual honour.

The French star received the Golden Ball at the Théâtre du Châtelet, where the football elite gathered to celebrate the 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Messi, who shared the Barcelona dressing room with Dembele between 2017 and 2021, left a heartfelt comment on the winger’s Instagram post after the ceremony.

“Grande Ous !!! Congratulations I’m so happy for you. You deserve it,” Messi wrote.

Dembele, currently recovering from an injury picked up during the international break, was granted permission to attend the gala in Paris, missing PSG’s rescheduled Ligue 1 fixture against Marseille.

He is targeting a return to action in time for Saturday’s league clash with Auxerre.