“Messi can become a world champion again, assures Dembélé.”

Ousmane Dembélé has sparked a genuine debate about the World Cup by stating unequivocally that Lionel Messi could very well lift the World Cup trophy again, even at the age of 38. The French international, a prominent figure at Paris Saint-Germain and a key player for the French national team, did not hesitate to place his former Barcelona teammate at the top of the list of the greatest talents of all time, fueling the discussion about Messi’s impact on international football and the possibility of Argentina defending the title they won in 2022.

The interview was granted to the Spanish newspaper Marca, where Dembélé, about to embark on another World Cup with France, analyzed his team’s prospects for this summer’s tournament. The French will face Senegal, Iraq, and Norway in the group stage, in a journey that promises to be challenging for a squad accustomed to the pressure of major stages. Dembélé arrives with an enhanced status: after winning the Ballon d’Or last year while playing for PSG, and having been decisive in securing two consecutive Champions League titles, the French winger is focused on collective goals.

“Many teams are favorites, but that doesn’t mean anything in football,” said Dembélé, highlighting the unpredictability of the competition. “There are many favorite teams in this competition. Moreover, we know that the French national team reached two finals in the last two editions. Therefore, we will be a team that will be expected to achieve a lot, but we remain focused on the goal. Before thinking about reaching the round of 16 or quarter-finals, we must first get through the group stage matches. Ballon d’Or? It’s an exceptional individual trophy, but that comes later. The number one objective was to win the Champions League with PSG and, with the French national team, to win a World Cup,” explained the winger, showing himself to be pragmatic and aware of the traps that favoritism can bring.

The topic of Messi inevitably came up, and Dembélé left no doubt about his admiration for the Argentine star. “Of course, he can win all the trophies possible. I’ve seen him at Barcelona. [Having four more years] doesn’t change anything. He is the best I have ever seen, the best that football has ever seen. He remains very dangerous. It’s hard to stop him, even at 38 years old. He may be that age, but he will always have those qualities. You have to be careful with him because he is capable of winning again,” Dembélé warned, highlighting the danger Messi continues to represent in any competitive context, regardless of age.

The conversation also touched on the situation of the French captain, Kylian Mbappé, who has faced intense criticism recently. Dembélé made a point of defending his national and club teammate, pointing to the excessive media pressure. “They have been very unfair to him. They exaggerate a bit in their criticism of Kylian because he is an incredible player and a great person off the pitch, as I have known him for a long time. Sometimes they overdo the criticism just because it’s Kylian Mbappé. You shouldn’t be so hard on him. Whether he ties his shoelaces, doesn’t tie them, pulls up his socks, doesn’t pull them up… It’s too much, because he is still a human being and a player of exceptional quality. In any case, here in the French national team, he gets along very well with us. He is a leader, the captain of our team, and a very important player,” Dembélé emphasized, making it clear the weight Mbappé carries in the locker room and on the pitch.

Looking at the opponents, Dembélé did not hesitate to point to Spain, the current European champions, as one of the favorites, but he did not forget other giants of world football: “There are also Argentina, the current world champions, Germany, Portugal, and England. All are great teams. That said, we also need to be careful with the less favored teams,” he added, in a warning to those who underestimate the potential for surprises.

With the World Cup just around the corner, France presents itself as one of the main contenders, but the competition promises to be fierce. The possibility of Messi winning the world again at 38 years old adds an irresistible narrative to the tournament and keeps all eyes on the Argentine national team. For Dembélé, the focus remains on getting through the group stage and proving on the pitch that French favoritism can be turned into concrete results. The pressure is at its peak, expectations could not be higher, and fans can hardly wait to see who will be the next protagonist to lift the most coveted trophy in world football.

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