When Lionel Messi departed Paris Saint-Germain for Inter Miami on a free transfer in 2023, few expected to see the Argentine superstar face his former club again so soon, particularly reigning European champions.
However, the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup provides just such an opportunity. PSG is scheduled to meet Inter Miami in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon, with a place in the quarter-finals of the inaugural tournament at stake. All signs point to this being far from a friendly encounter between PSG and Messi.
The former Barcelona icon left Paris under strained circumstances. Having been booed by fans and sanctioned by the club, both parties were content to go their separate ways by the time his tenure ended. Since his departure, the criticism has primarily come from Messi`s side.
Messi`s arrival in Paris was, understandably, met with immense excitement. Yet, the move itself was not one Messi desired; he had no intention of leaving Barcelona, his beloved club. The Catalan club`s financial difficulties ultimately forced his hand.
His performance statistics for PSG were respectable, with 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances over two seasons. However, he did not manage to elevate the team to the next level in Europe, where PSG continued to falter, even appearing to regress.
Messi as a Symptom of Broader Issues at PSG
Towards the end of his second and final season, following an early exit from the UEFA Champions League (a 3-0 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich in the Round of 16), Messi became a target for criticism. He wasn`t alone; many high-profile players from the `Galáctico` era, including Neymar, also faced boos from the Parc des Princes crowd. While the fans` frustration was directed at the players, it also reflected deeper discontent with the club`s hierarchy and transfer strategy. Parisian supporters found it difficult to connect with the team, and Messi was arguably the most prominent victim of this growing disconnect.
Despite the tension, a contract renewal was still reportedly discussed heading into the final weeks of the season. However, an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, which caused him to miss first-team training, effectively ended any chances of a new deal for Messi.
Sanctioned by PSG, a visibly contrite Messi issued a public apology two days later. Although his two-week suspension from training was reduced, the financial penalty (two weeks` wages docked) remained. The World Cup winner had reached a point of no return. A move that promised so much ultimately fell short for both player and club, leading to Messi`s quiet departure.
He has not hesitated to speak negatively about his former club whenever given the opportunity to discuss his two years in Paris. “These were two years where I wasn’t happy. I missed a lot of things,” he stated, notably expressing disappointment about not being as involved in his children`s daily lives as he was in Barcelona.
He also commented, “As I said at the time, I didn’t want to leave to go to Paris. I had to quickly adapt to a new place after so many years at PSG.”
Al-Khelaifi`s Acknowledgment of Messi
Messi has also voiced disappointment that his 2022 World Cup victory with Argentina was not celebrated by PSG. “I was the only player out of the 25 [World Cup winners] that wasn’t recognised,” Messi acknowledged, understanding why this was the case given that Argentina defeated France in the final: “It was understandable. I was in a place that, because of us, wasn’t world champions once again.”
Life in Paris also proved challenging for Messi personally. “They (the neighbours) rang at our door at 21:00/22:00 in the evening to tell me that my kids shouldn’t play football. The neighbours bothered us,” he revealed. “Unfortunately, it didn’t go as we wanted it to. That affected my mindset a lot, and it had repercussions on the pitch. In Paris, on a personal level, I didn’t feel good.”
He continued to emphasize his struggle: “These two years were not nice for me. I wasn’t happy on a daily basis, with training, or in matches. It really took me time to adapt to all of that.”
According to reports, Messi has often used media appearances to express his discontent during his time with PSG, which has reportedly surprised even his own entourage. PSG, in contrast, has rarely spoken about the Argentine star publicly.
However, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi did recently thank Messi. “I thank Kylian Mbappé and Messi, Neymar, Zlatan (Ibrahimovic). They have all been very important for the club,” he stated during an interview following PSG’s Champions League triumph.
Messi is set for a reunion in Atlanta that will undoubtedly bring back memories – though, by his own account, these are unlikely to be pleasant ones.
