Dembele Backs 38-Year-Old Messi to Win Second World Cup as France Prepare for Senegal Opener

Ousmane Dembele has declared that Lionel Messi remains capable of winning another World Cup title, backing the 38-year-old Argentine captain to repeat the feat he achieved in Qatar four years ago.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger made the remarks in an interview with Marca, with France set to open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in Group I against Senegal before further fixtures against Iraq on June 22 and Norway on June 26.

“Of course, he can win any trophy possible,” Dembele said. “I already saw what he could do during my time in Barcelona.”

Dembele, who guided PSG to their second UEFA Champions League title ahead of the tournament, was specifically asked whether Messi could replicate the form that made him the defining figure of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — a tournament Argentina won on penalties against France in the final.

Messi’s Argentina will begin their title defence in Group J against Algeria on June 17, with subsequent group stage matches against Austria and Jordan to follow. At 38, Messi is widely expected to be participating in his final World Cup, adding a historic dimension to Argentina’s bid to retain the trophy.

While Dembele expressed confidence in Messi’s abilities, he was equally measured in his assessment of the broader competitive landscape. “There are plenty of favourites. You know how it is — that label doesn’t mean anything in football anymore,” he said.

France arrive at the tournament carrying significant weight of expectation, having reached the final of the previous two editions — losing to Argentina on penalties in 2022 and to Croatia 4-2 in 2018. Dembele acknowledged that his side will face intense scrutiny as a result.

“We know that the French national team has reached the last two finals, so we will be a team under immense scrutiny,” he noted. “But we remain focused on the objective. Before thinking about the round of 16 or the quarter-finals, we have to navigate the group stage matches properly.”

The comments reflect a cautious approach from Dembele, who appears keen to avoid complacency within the French camp. Les Bleus, despite their recent pedigree, have not won the World Cup since their home triumph in 1998, with their 2018 victory in Russia standing as their only title in the intervening period before that run of consecutive finals appearances.

Argentina, meanwhile, are chasing history of their own. A second consecutive World Cup triumph would place them among the most dominant sides in the tournament’s modern era and cement Messi’s legacy further. The forward’s performance against Iceland earlier in the tournament — which, according to reports, included a record-breaking free-kick — has already drawn widespread attention heading into the knockout stages.

For France, the immediate focus remains a group-stage test that opens against Senegal, one of Africa’s leading sides, before they can turn their attention to the knockout rounds where Dembele suggests the real competition will be decided.