Dembele Credits Lionel Messi for His Growth and Ambition

Ousmane Dembele’s journey at Barcelona was not always filled with happiness or success. Much of his time at the club was spent battling injuries, missing important games, and struggling to find consistency. Despite the setbacks, Dembele insists that his years at Barcelona were not wasted. In fact, he believes that he grew a lot during this period, thanks to the influence of Lionel Messi. According to Dembele, Messi not only showed him dreams but also gave him valuable advice that shaped his mindset and ambitions. One of those dreams, perhaps the biggest of all, is to one day win the Ballon d’Or. Dembele admits that Messi inspired him to aim high and remain determined, even during the most difficult moments of his career.

Dembele joined Barcelona in 2017, arriving with high expectations after his big transfer from Borussia Dortmund. From the very beginning, he developed a close relationship with Messi, who was not just his captain but also his mentor. For four seasons, they played side by side, and during that time Dembele found comfort in having Messi around whenever he struggled on the pitch. Messi’s presence made things easier for the young Frenchman. Even small details, like having his locker next to Messi’s in the dressing room, played a big role in helping him feel connected and supported. Dembele revealed in an interview with FourFourTwo that Messi always seemed to understand what he needed without even asking. “My relationship with Messi was very good from the first day,” Dembele recalled. “He gave me a lot of advice, and it was as if he knew what I wanted before I even spoke. He told me that if I wanted to fulfill my dreams, I had to be serious. From then on, I started watching him closely and learning from him.”

Messi’s style of play left a deep impression on Dembele. The way Messi positioned himself, his movement without the ball, and his tactical intelligence were things Dembele tried hard to study and absorb. “Whether Messi played as a number ten or as a number nine, his positioning was extraordinary,” Dembele explained. “Sometimes he would disappear for four or five minutes, almost invisible on the pitch. But then, when he suddenly touched the ball, it was like everything was already planned in his mind. It was as if he had written the script of the game in advance.” For Dembele, this was one of Messi’s most unique qualities — the ability to control the rhythm of a match with just a few touches.

Beyond Messi’s individual brilliance, Dembele also admired the Argentine’s understanding with his teammates. He highlighted how perfectly Messi read the movements of others, especially his longtime partnership with Jordi Alba. “It was as if Messi already knew when Jordi would make his run or when the ball would come to him. His football brain worked faster than anyone else’s. He understood the game in a way that made everything easier. And, of course, we all know what he was capable of when he had the ball at his feet.” These insights from Messi not only helped Dembele improve but also pushed him to think about the game in a deeper way.

During their four years together, Dembele shared the pitch with Messi in 95 matches. Those memories remain special for him, even after Messi’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. For Dembele, those moments are unforgettable, not just because of Messi’s greatness but because of the personal connection they shared. When asked if he would one day tell his daughter the story of playing alongside Messi, Dembele laughed and said, “I’ll tell her now!” That answer reflects just how much those experiences mean to him. Messi was not just a teammate — he was a guide, an inspiration, and a living example of what it takes to reach the very top. Now, with Messi’s lessons in mind, Dembele wants to write his own story, chase the dream of winning the Ballon d’Or, and honor the path that began with the advice of the greatest player he ever played with.