Lionel Messi (center) played inconspicuously for PSG.
© Francois Mori / AP / dpa
Just under half an hour – Lionel Messi’s debut in PSG’s dress was unspectacular in terms of sport. Not at all about the trappings. Proof of what’s to come.
Reims – Even the opposing fans chanted “Messi, Messi, Messi” while warming up. The Stade Reims goalkeeper was happy after the final whistle to see a photo of his little son on the football superstar’s arm.
And the sports newspaper “L’Équipe” put it in a nutshell: “It is a date that will go down in history.” At 10:09 p.m., the paper precisely stated, Lionel Messi was under the eyes of 20,525 “lucky people” in the Stade stadium Reims and millions of TV viewers “across the planet” came into play. After a deep hug with and for his Brazilian kicker buddy Neymar, Messi stepped onto the pitch. “The event caused an unexpected excitement,” wrote “Le Monde”.
The event was Messi’s first competitive game after 778 games and 21 years at FC Barcelona. He moved to Paris Saint-Germain free of charge because the insanely highly indebted Catalans simply could no longer afford their guarantees of success. PSG does. And so the now 34-year-old Messi celebrated his debut over around 24 minutes at the second stop of his career, which was peppered with titles, successes and records.
Hype about the six-time world footballer
A first appearance that impressively demonstrated the hype surrounding the six-time world footballer among RB Leipzig’s group opponents in the Champions League. “I’ve rarely seen anything like that,” commented former French international Thierry Henry, who once played with Messi at FC Barcelona, when the opposing fans also welcomed him. “It was nice to see and hear this reception,” commented PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino.
“Messi was very happy about it,” said the compatriot of the football genius from Rosario. They are all motivated, with Messi there is also optimism. He should then make his starting line-up debut in just under two weeks at PSG’s Parc des Princes in Paris, opponent after the international break will be Clermont Foot Auvergne.
The title in Ligue 1 is for PSG, especially after second place last season and with the other well-known newcomers this summer, no more than a mandatory and no less than a formality. The big goal is the Champions League. With the double goal scorer from the 2-0 win in Reims?
Is Mbappé still working?
It will be exciting hours for Kylian Mbappé until the transfer window closes this Tuesday. While “L’Équipe” titled one of their many reports on the game with “Messi, it started”, the French star striker said: “Mbappé until the end”.
Real Madrid want the 22-year-old French world champion before his contract with PSG expires next year. And Mbappé also wants to go there. It was he who shone with his two goals in PSG’s fourth win in the fourth game of the season, before Messi’s first appearance was rather unspectacular from a purely sporting point of view.
“Half an hour without any major action for the start of a cycle in which PSG dreams of retaking France and is always thinking of reaching the top of Europe with the best in its own ranks,” wrote the Argentine sports newspaper “Olé”. Messi’s contract is valid until the end of June 2023 – with an option for one more season. dpa
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