Ballon d'Or 2025: Lionel Messi 'so happy' for Ousmane Dembele success, Kylian Mbappe praises Paris Saint-Germain star - 'You deserve it 1000 times'

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Eight-time winner Lionel Messi has paid tribute to his ex-Barcelona team-mate Ousmane Dembele for his maiden Ballon d'Or win. The French star, who won a continental treble with Paris Saint-Germain last season, including an inaugural UEFA Champions League crown, beat Lamine Yamal to the award on Monday. Messi and Kylian Mbappe both congratulated the player.

Watch moment Dembele, Bonmati announced as Ballon d'Or winners

Video credit: TNT Sports

Lionel Messi has led the tributes to his former Barcelona team-mate Ousmane Dembele's Ballon d'Or success, while Kylian Mbappe was also among the stars to praise his compatriot.

The Frenchman picked up the award for the first time on Monday, edging Barca's teenage star Lamine Yamal after an outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain.

Dembele scored 35 goals and registered 14 assists across all competitions as PSG claimed UEFA Champions League success, as well as the Ligue 1 crown and the Coupe de France in a first-ever continental treble for the French club.

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After Dembele picked up the iconic award in Paris, eight-time winner Messi took to social media to congratulate his former colleague, with whom he spent four years playing in La Liga for the Catalan club.

Image credit: Getty Images

"Great Ous!!! Congratulations, I'm so happy for you. You deserve it," the Inter Miami forward posted.

Dembele even credited Messi in his speech, and said: "I learned so much there [at Barcelona], playing alongside players like Messi and [Andres] Iniesta.

"It was a great learning experience. I am so happy, when I see the list of legends who have won this award."

Messi's time competing for the Ballon d'Or may finally be over after years of battles with Real Madrid and Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo, where he won his first in 2009 and his eighth in 2023.

Current Los Blancos superstar Mbappe is still searching for his first, and despite being one of the favourites in recent years, finished seventh in the 2025 edition.

However, he also congratulated his fellow 2018 FIFA World Cup winner and ex-PSG team-mate.

"Ousmane Dembele. It's so exciting, my brother! You deserve it 1000 times," Mbappe wrote on Instagram.

Dembele 'destroys' Brest again to grab PSG's third

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports expert Julien Laurens has spoken of Dembele's achievement, which the winger labelled "one of the best things I have accomplished in my career".

"I think he’s the best player in the best team in the world," the French journalist said.

"Outside of all the goals, all the assists, all the trophies that PSG won, I just think when you’re the best player in the best team in the world, there’s nobody better than you.

"The second thing is it’s an incredible story, in how he transformed his game and how he proved the doubters wrong.

"But for him to go from not much, despite all the talent that he’s always had, to the best player in the world, is just an incredible journey. He deserves a lot of credit for it. Luis Enrique and PSG do as well.

"Overall, what he represented for this PSG team that was so incredible from December to June, not just with his goals and assists but with his pressing and counter-pressing, his leadership, how he was decisive in all the key games - the Champions League final, semi-final and quarter-final, in the league and the French Cup - I think he’s a wonderful Ballon d’Or winner."

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