Formerly teammates at Barça, Ousmane Dembélé and Lionel Messi particularly appreciate each other.
When Ousmane Dembélé arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, in August 2023, Lionel Messi had just left. Except that the two attackers had already had the opportunity to play together for three seasons before.
Indeed, between 2018 and 2021, the international tricolor and the octuple Ballon d'Or wore the colors of FC Barcelona.
“My relationship with Lionel Messi was wonderful from the first day. He told me that I had to be serious if I wanted to realize my dreams. It was he who made me love Barcelona “said the former Borussia Dortmund player during a
interview given to FourFourTwo.
Ousmane Dembélé will therefore have had the privilege of playing with his idol. “Lionel Messi has always been my favorite player, he assures. It was he who made me love Barça. Playing with Iniesta for his last year and Lionel Messi was incredible! ».
When Messi described the future Ousmane Dembélé
If the number 10 Ile -de -France has today reached such a level, it is partly thanks to “La Pulga”. “He must pass the course that everyone is waiting forMessi explained in September 2019 in the columns of Sport. He must change things in relation to his professionalism, he must put it in the skull. Its daily goal must be to triumph at Barça. I hope he will be less injured. I hope he can demonstrate which player he is. »»
It was therefore necessary to wait five years that Ooumane Dembélé became the player that the Argentinian imagined. Today, the native of Vernon is the big favorite to win
The Ballon d'Or 2025.
