Ousmane Dembélé reveals Lionel Messi’s message after historic Ballon d’Or triumph

Ousmane Dembélé has joined French football royalty after being crowned Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the sixth Frenchman to claim the coveted trophy on Monday evening.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward produced a season of staggering consistency, featuring in 53 matches, scoring 35 goals and contributing 16 assists while lifting every domestic and European trophy available to him with PSG – except the Club World Cup.

The 28-year-old’s stunning year, capped by football’s most prestigious individual honour, was made even more special by the outpouring of admiration from past and present team-mates.

In an interview with France Football, Dembélé admitted that while the award itself was a career-defining moment, a personal message from one particular football icon left him deeply moved.

“A message that particularly struck me? It was Lionel Messi,” Dembélé revealed. “He sent me a direct message. There was Xavi Hernández, Luis Suárez… they were happy,” the French international added, reflecting on the warm congratulations from several of FC Barcelona’s most legendary figures.

Dembélé, who spent six seasons at Barcelona before joining PSG, has often spoken about how his time at the Camp Nou shaped him.

That Messi, Xavi and Suárez — players he once shared the dressing room with — reached out to him privately underlines the enduring bond he has maintained with his former club.

The tributes were not limited to Barcelona alumni.

Dembélé also received a flood of messages from PSG’s inner circle, demonstrating how widely respected he has become in Paris.

Those from PSG? I got them by message. Achraf (Hakimi), the coach, Luis Campos, all of them, he said, listing the names of team-mates and staff who were quick to celebrate his achievement.

This cascade of recognition reflects the extraordinary impact of Dembélé’s campaign.

Beyond the sheer numbers of goals and assists, his performances have been marked by dazzling skill, relentless work rate and decisive contributions in key matches.

For PSG, his arrival has been transformative; for France, it has added another Ballon d’Or to an illustrious list that already features Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin and Karim Benzema.

As the French forward begins life as a Ballon d’Or holder, the messages from across the footballing world — and especially from Lionel Messi — stand as a testament not only to his achievements but to the respect he commands among the game’s greatest names.