Ousmane Dembélé Wins Ballon d’Or
On Monday, Ousmane Dembélé was honored with the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, a significant achievement that drew enthusiastic congratulations from his former teammates Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi. Dembélé’s remarkable performance throughout the season for Paris Saint-Germain set him apart, as he netted an impressive 35 goals and supplied 14 assists across 53 matches. His contributions were pivotal in helping PSG clinch their first-ever Champions League title, along with victories in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
Reactions from Former Teammates
At age 26, Mbappé, currently with Real Madrid after his departure from PSG in the summer of 2024, shared his excitement for Dembélé on Instagram shortly after the announcement, stating:
“Ousmane Dembélé. It’s so exciting, my brother! You deserve it 1000 times.”
Despite his own stellar career, this year marked Mbappé’s seventh-place finish in Ballon d’Or voting, and he has yet to receive the accolade himself.
Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Dembélé’s former teammate at Barcelona, expressed his happiness for Dembélé’s recognition. Leaving a comment in Spanish on Dembélé’s Instagram, Messi wrote:
“Great Ous!!! Congratulations I’m so happy for you. You deserve it.”
Career Transition and Acceptance Speech
Dembélé transitioned to PSG in 2023, coinciding with Messi’s own move to Inter Miami, highlighting a notable shift in both players’ careers. During his acceptance speech, Dembélé acknowledged the invaluable lessons learned while playing alongside legends like Messi and Andrés Iniesta at Barcelona, emphasizing how those experiences shaped him. He remarked:
“It was a great learning experience. I am so happy when I see the list of legends who have won this award,”
underscoring the honor’s significance in his career journey.
