Mbappé, Messi Praise Dembélé On Ballon d’Or Triumph

Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi extended their congratulations to former club teammate Ousmane Dembélé after he claimed the Ballon d’Or award on Monday.

Dembélé triumphed over Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal to secure the prestigious individual trophy following an outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain. The French forward netted 35 goals and provided 14 assists in 53 appearances, contributing to PSG’s first Champions League title, as well as clinching the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France.

Mbappé, who left PSG in the summer of 2024 after seven years at the club to join Real Madrid, was among the first to commend his compatriot. “Ousmane Dembélé, this is so exciting, my brother! You deserve it a thousand times,” Mbappé wrote on his Instagram shortly after Dembélé received the award.

Mbappé, 26, who is yet to win a Ballon d’Or himself, finished seventh in this year’s edition. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was equally delighted to see Dembélé receive the recognition he deserves. Messi spent four seasons alongside Dembélé at Barcelona before moving to PSG in 2021.

The Inter Miami captain left a comment in Spanish on Dembélé’s Instagram, stating: “Great Ous!!! Congratulations, I’m so happy for you. You deserve it.”

Dembélé, who transferred to PSG in 2023 from Barcelona during the same window that saw Messi depart the French giants for Inter Miami, referenced his former Barça teammate during his acceptance speech. “I learned so much there [at Barcelona], playing alongside legends like Messi and [Andres] Iniesta,” he said on Monday. “It was a tremendous learning experience. I am overjoyed when I see the list of legends who have won this award.”