Football superstar Lionel Messi finally made the long-awaited dream of both Paris Saint-Germain fans and his own legion of devotees materialize before their very own eyes as he finally made his maiden appearance for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday evening, happily freaking out many who couldn’t help but feel ‘weird’ seeing him in their club’s team shirt representing the Parisian club this time instead of bearing down menacingly on their defenses barely a few short months ago at the Parc des Princes return leg of the Champions League.
His ex-Barcelona teammate Neymar pivotal primarily in bringing him to the French capital after protracted contract talks with the Catalans finally and unexpectedly broke down, ardent admirers of the former MSN (Messi-Suarez-Neymar) trident at Camp Nou were made to wait a bit longer to see Messi and Neymar reunited again on the pitch, as the Argentine came on as a replacement for his ex-Brazilian strike partner at the 66th minute.
Not having kicked a ball in a competitive game since landing Argentina the first major international trophy of his career on July 10 in the Copa America final against Neymar’s Brazil at the Maracana, Messi was raucously cheered even by the Reims’ home support despite playing for the opposition and had his first official touches of the ball heartily encouraged.
In Spain, fellow Barca academy product and childhood friend Gerard Pique had allegedly bought the rights to broadcast the match along with popular streamer Ibai, who had himself delivered one of Messi’s first interviews after he had switched allegiances to the French capital club.
The commentators warned that Ligue 1 is far more physical than La Liga, and Messi got a foretaste of this physicality in some tussles with Reims’ brusque defenders eager for a tryst with the 6-time Ballon D’or winner.
Away from the Stade Auguste-Delaune, viewers worldwide were reacting to the “weird” sight of seeing Messi in a club kit other than the previous customary Blaugrana’s after terminating his 21-year relationship with Camp Nou earlier this month, while others picked up on the unfamiliarity of watching the former Barcelona talisman and skipper with a number other than his all-too-familiar ’10’ as well, likening the experience to Michael Jordan, whose clothing brand coincidentally provides PSG’s kits, donning ’45’ as opposed to his iconic ’23’.
Irrespective of the few scant minutes he received and despite the new colors he donned, the French top flight is now invaded by the pandemic of the Messi fever,,,,,, so much so that the Reims goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic was pictured post-match asking Messi for a selfie with his son following the 2-0 win for the visitors.
As for the action itself, the highlight of the 34-year-old’s quiet cameo was an impressive link-up with Mbappe although it was the French World Cup winner who stole the show overall for bagging the brace in what could possibly be his last appearance for PSG as Real Madrid are pushing earnestly to convince the former to relinquish their lynchpin.
First robbing possession deep in Reims’ half, Messi swiftly found the youngster on the right flank who was unfortunately unable to reciprocate the favor when Messi cooly sauntered into the box with anticipation.
The full-time whistle blown after an additional seven minutes of stoppage time, PSG will look to give Messi more playing time on September 12 after the international break when they host Clermont Foot at the Parc des Princes.
Subsequently, a few days after that, the main mission tied to the true purpose of the epochal signing of his two-year deal gets underway via a Champions League group game visit to Club Brugge.