Lionel Messi has criticized his former club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for treating him poorly after winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
Lionel Messi won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina while he was on the staff of the French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). However, it is difficult for PSG to honor Messi because Argentina defeated France in the 2022 World Cup final after a penalty shootout.
Argentina dramatically defeated France on penalties after the two teams drew 3-3 to win the World Cup for the third time in history . Meanwhile, Messi won the World Cup championship for the first time after participating in the tournament 5 times.
International media reported that Messi really wants PSG to honor him after winning the World Cup at the Parc des Princes stadium. Messi was lined up by his PSG teammates to applaud his World Cup victory during a team training session. However, the same thing did not happen before a PSG match at home at Parc des Princes.
PSG leaders don’t want to do that because they fear backlash from fans. It is likely that PSG fans will boo Messi if this club honors M10’s World Cup championship in a home match. Instead, PSG tried to recognize Messi’s victory by giving him a special reward during training and Messi also took a long break after the World Cup final. Argentina defeated France on December 18, 2022, but it was not until January 4, 2023 that Lionel Messi returned to PSG to practice.
Notably, after Messi won the World Cup, PSG played extremely poorly and was eliminated from the Champions League. The fans vented all their anger on Messi. After that, Messi left PSG to join owner David Beckham’s Inter Miami on a free transfer last summer. Now, Messi believes that PSG did not do enough to honor his World Cup winning achievement.
Lionel Messi, 36 years old, disappointedly criticized PSG when he shared with Olga newspaper: “I am the only player who does not receive recognition from the club compared to 25 other teammates (in Argentina). It wasn’t what I expected but everything happens for a reason.”
Most Argentinian players received a warm hero’s welcome upon returning to the club, including Alexis Mac Allister. Alexis Mac Allister lifted the World Cup trophy at the Amex (Brighton’s home ground) before a Premier League match.
Mac Allister also lifted the championship trophy at the Brighton training ground amid the applause of his teammates and coach Roberto De Zerbi’s coaching staff. Now, Alexis Mac Allister has left Brighton to join Liverpool.
“It was great to share my gold medal and World Cup win with all of them,” Mac Allister later told Sky Sports (UK), “I know they will all be happy for me, because they know They have been an important part of my journey to the World Cup over the past three years. But to be honest, I did not expect such a warm reception.”
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez received a similar reception when he returned to Old Trafford. Martinez tweeted: “No words… Thank you Old Trafford, my teammates and the staff for this wonderful reception. Feels great to be back and winning.”
There also needs to be some fairness with PSG, they are not the only team that does not honor the player who won the World Cup at home as Messi himself criticized. 2022 World Cup champion Nicolas Tagliafico was also not honored at Lyon. It is understandable that Lionel Messi and Nicolas Tagliafico were not honored as they deserved because PSG and Lyon are two French clubs.
In addition, if PSG allows Lionel Messi to parade to celebrate the World Cup championship at home at Parc des Princes, they could anger Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe scored a hat-trick for France in the final but still had to bitterly watch Lionel Messi and Argentina lift the championship.
