Messi’s ups and downs at PSG

Here, AFP Sport takes a look at Messi’s fleeting moments of brilliance and the most frequent difficult moments since leaving Barcelona for Paris last year:

highs
First goal against Manchester City
09/28/2021

— Messi scored his first goal for PSG in his first big game of the season against Manchester City. He hadn’t scored in his first three appearances, but struck in style at the Parc des Princes. After advancing from the halfway line, Messi exchanged passes with Kylian Mbappe and fired a brilliant shot into the net.

Late magic beat Leipzig
10/19/2021

— Messi’s best moments with PSG have come in the Champions League, despite his early departure. However, there were times when it looked like his campaign might end even sooner, such as when they hounded RB Leipzig at home in the group stage. But Messi scored twice in seven minutes of the second half, including the winner from the penalty spot, to salvage a 3-2 victory.

Hat-trick of assists
11/28/2021

— When the Argentine first joined PSG, most people wouldn’t have expected three assists against Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne to appear on a list of his highlights. But he produced an excellent display on a snowy night in Saint-Etienne and has the most joint assists in the French top flight this season, tied on 10 with Mbappe.

minima
Wait for the first league goal
08/29/2021 – 11/20/2021

— Messi had to wait until November to score his first league goal for PSG. He eventually came in a 3-1 home win over Nantes, after he failed to score in games against Reims, Lyon, Rennes, Marseille and Lille.

First defeat against Rennes
03/10/2021

— PSG struggled to score goals early in the season when Messi was in the squad, and that problem became apparent in the 2-0 loss to Rennes. Messi, Mbappé, Neymar and Ángel Di María started, but Mauricio Pochettino’s men did not even record a shot on goal.

cup outlet
01/31/2022

— The champions were knocked out of the Coupe de France by Nice as Messi made his first start since contracting Covid-19 in Argentina. After the teams’ second goalless draw this season, loan keeper Marcin Bulka made the decisive penalty shoot-out save for Nice against their parent club.

Missed penalty against Real Madrid
02/15/2022

— Although PSG’s Champions League debacle in 2022 will be best remembered for the collapse of the second leg in Madrid, Messi’s missed penalty in the first match was a great moment. His shot from the penalty spot was saved by Thibaut Courtois in the 62nd minute, and although Mbappe’s brilliant goal secured a late 1-0 win, it proved crucial in the tie.

champions league exit
09/03/2022

— Messi and PSG’s tough season was dealt a fatal blow when they capitulated at the Santiago Bernabéu. Having led 2-0 on aggregate with less than half an hour to go, Karim Benzema’s hat-trick ensured that PSG’s wait for their first Champions League title would continue. The way the French giants imploded brought back memories of their dramatic round of 16 defeats in 2017 and 2019 to Barcelona and Manchester United, respectively.

being booed
03/13/2022

— The Parisian fans made their feelings known in the team’s next game after the Madrid debacle. Messi and Neymar were partly to blame and were booed and whistled during Sunday’s 3-0 win over bottom side Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes.