Under the Hosting of Qatar, Lionel Messi Encountered PSG Once More at the Club World Cup
Here we go, another round of football drama! Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is set to face Inter Miami in the Club World Cup Round of 16 on Sunday, June 29 (6 PM Paris time). This encounter revives the rivalry between Lionel Messi and his old club, where his tenure was a mixed bag of high expectations and unfulfilled dreams.
Back in 2021, Messi joined PSG from Barcelona in a major move to boost the club's reputation. The dream trio with Neymar and Kylian Mbappé raised hopes for a European-level triumph, but titles came in the form of Ligue 1 trophies, while the Champions League continued to allude them.
Messi's time at PSG was not entirely smooth off the pitch. He struggled to fit in, often caught in the crosshairs of Neymar and Mbappé's rivalry. Additionally, he felt underappreciated by the club, particularly after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, an achievement not celebrated by the club to the same extent as his teammates.
A two-week suspension due to an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia also strained relationships. Finally, on June 1, 2023, PSG announced that Messi would part ways at the end of the 2022/23 season, leading to a frosty fan response, boos included, during his final match.
Fan reactions to Messi's departure were generally mixed, though mostly negative or cold. The farewell was subdued, without the usual fanfare for a player of Messi's stature, reflecting a difficult chapter marked by unrealized potential and team dynamics issues, according to some insiders.
Now, PSG and Messi meet again, this time in Atlanta. Will this reunion bring about some long-awaited laughter or another dose of drama? We'll find out soon enough!
In the upcoming European-leagues matches, Lionel Messi's former club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), will cross paths with his current team, Inter Miami, in a highly anticipated encounter. During Messi's tenure at PSG, football drama was a recurring theme, with titles limited to Ligue 1 trophies and a tumultuous relationship both on and off the pitch.
