As Inter Miami prepares to face his former club Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in the Club World Cup, attention turns to Lionel Messi`s two-year period in the French capital. While Miami is the sole MLS representative in the last 16 and an underdog against PSG, the matchup serves as a fresh reminder of Messi`s mixed tenure at the Parisian club before his move to the United States in 2023.
Messi`s time with the French champions was often characterized by challenges and ultimately fell short of the highest expectations, despite securing two Ligue 1 titles and a Trophee des Champions. The enduring legacy of that era, which featured the formidable trio of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe, remains the team`s failure to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy. This club performance contrasted sharply with his success on the international stage, particularly his World Cup victory with Argentina (beating Mbappe`s France in the final) during his final months as a PSG player.
The upcoming match in Atlanta against a PSG side recently crowned Champions League winners, and managed by his former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, highlights this unique chapter in Messi`s career. This highly anticipated encounter is not just a dominant storyline leading into the game but could well become a defining moment of the round of 16.
Let`s revisit the significant events during Lionel Messi`s time at Paris Saint-Germain.
August 10, 2021: Joins PSG
Just two days after an emotional departure from Barcelona, necessitated by the Spanish club`s financial constraints preventing his re-signing, Messi officially joined Paris Saint-Germain. He expressed that PSG aligned with his footballing ambitions. Given his salary requirements and PSG`s substantial financial power since the 2011 takeover by Qatar Sports Investments, the move appeared to be the most logical fit. Instantly, his arrival under then-manager Mauricio Pochettino, joining Neymar and Mbappe, positioned PSG as immediate favorites for the Champions League, forming one of the most star-studded attacking lineups in recent memory.
September 28, 2021: Messi`s First Champions League Goal
While PSG comfortably led Ligue 1, they secured their first Champions League win of the season against Manchester City, coached by Messi`s former mentor Pep Guardiola. Messi netted his inaugural goal for PSG in the competition during this match, a spectacular effort in the 70th minute. Receiving the ball near the halfway line from Marco Verratti, Messi embarked on a significant run into City`s half. Approaching the penalty area, he found Mbappe, who returned the ball with a single touch. From the edge of the box, Messi struck a powerful shot into the net.
March 9, 2022: PSG Lose to Real Madrid in Champions League
Facing a familiar adversary in Real Madrid in the round of 16, having finished second in their group, PSG`s Champions League campaign ended prematurely. Despite Messi missing a penalty in the first leg, PSG held a 1-0 home advantage courtesy of Mbappe`s stoppage-time goal. Mbappe extended the aggregate lead to 2-0 with a first-half strike in Madrid. However, a rapid 17-minute hat-trick from Karim Benzema turned the tie around, resulting in the star-laden PSG side being eliminated from the competition earlier than expected.
March 8, 2023: Bayern Munich Oust PSG from Champions League
Almost exactly one year after their previous round of 16 exit, PSG suffered the same fate in the Champions League, this time convincingly defeated by Bayern Munich with a 3-0 aggregate scoreline under manager Christophe Galtier. While PSG reached the final in 2020 and won the competition this year, their two seasons with Messi were notable exceptions, as they failed to advance past the quarterfinals.
April 8, 2023: Messi Breaks European Club Scoring Record
Although Messi later described his tenure at PSG as “difficult,” it was not without significant personal achievements. In a match against Nice in the spring of 2023, Messi became the all-time leading goalscorer in European club football, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo with his 702nd goal at that level. In the same 2-0 victory for PSG, Messi also reached another remarkable milestone: 1,000 goal contributions at the club level.
June 3, 2023: Messi Plays Final Match for PSG
Two days after coach Galtier confirmed his departure, the World Cup champion played his final game for PSG at the Parc des Princes. The match against Clermont was eventful, though not a positive conclusion for the club. Messi faced some jeers from sections of the crowd, and PSG ultimately lost 3-2, despite Kylian Mbappe scoring twice early in the game.
