Ousmane Dembélé praises Lionel Messi ahead of World Cup 2026

Ousmane Dembélé warned France ahead of the 2026 World Cup, stating that Lionel Messi remains capable of deciding matches for Argentina despite being 38 years old. France enters the tournament looking to avenge their loss to Argentina in the 2022 final, where Messi starred. Dembélé recalled Messi's key contributions in that match, including two goals and his Golden Ball win. He emphasized Messi's enduring quality and underscored the need for France to remain cautious. Dembélé also defended teammate Kylian Mbappé against criticism, highlighting his talent and character off the pitch.

• 2:00 PMYahoo Sports — “Lionel Messi is the best player I’ve ever seen” — Dembélé warns France: “Leo can still win the World Cup”