France star Ousmane Dembele has revealed the advice Argentina captain Lionel Messi gave him at Barcelona ahead of both teams’ 2022 FIFA World Cup final clash on Sunday.

Dembele and Messi were teammates for four seasons at Barcelona before the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

The 25-year-old, who has been hampered by injury issues throughout his time at Barcelona, will go up against Messi in this year’s World Cup final, with France aiming to become the first country to successfully defend the trophy.

And Dembele has revealed how Messi encouraged him to adapt his style at Camp Nou following his move from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.

According to him, Messi also helped him a lot, adding that France will have to make sure he touches the ball as little as possible this weekend because he is very dangerous.

“I arrived at 20 years old, and I wanted to do everything by myself,” Dembele was quoted by Marca as saying.

“He gave me calmness; he told me there was a time to dribble and a time to pass."

“I spent four very good years at Barcelona; he’s one of those who made me love Barcelona along with Iniesta." In the dressing room, he’s very simple; he loves the young players.

“I used to sit next to him in the dressing room, and he has helped me a lot." "We've to try to make sure he touches the ball as little as possible because he’s very dangerous,” he added.