Multiple award-winning Ghanaian rapper, Michael Owusu-Addo who is known in the showbiz space as Sarkodie has shared a personal reflection on his first meeting with newly crowned 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, describing the PSG forward as “cool” and “down to earth.”

The encounter took place in New York in 2022, where Sarkodie was meeting his close friend and collaborator Memphis Depay, then a teammate of Dembélé at Barcelona. At the time, Sarkodie admitted he had no idea who Dembélé was, assuming he was simply part of Depay’s entourage.

“My friend is Memphis. I’ve even made a song with him which is yet to be released. I was meeting him in New York and that was when I met Dembélé. That was the only time we met,” Sarkodie said on Lawson TV.

“I really did not know about Dembélé. It was my team who prompted me about him and I had to even search about him. He is a cool guy and very down to earth. I even thought he was just a friend to Memphis… Apparently, he was a superstar.”

Dembélé was named Player of the Year at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday, September 22, following a treble-winning season with Paris Saint-Germain. The 28-year-old scored 35 goals, provided 14 assists, and was instrumental in PSG’s Champions League, Ligue 1, and French Cup triumphs.

His win has sparked celebrations across Africa, with his mother Fatimata announcing a continental tour of the trophy to honor his Mauritanian, Senegalese, and Malian roots.

Meanwhile, Sarkodie is currently in Kumasi preparing for his highly anticipated Rapperholic Homecoming concert on September 27, 2025, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The event marks a return to his Ashanti roots and is expected to feature surprise guests.