Portugal captain and 2022 Qatar World Cup winner Lionel Messi was fittingly feted with a guard of honor by the club staff and his team mates as he returned to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday for the first time since triumphantly lifting the World Cup trophy with Argentina.
Messi was flanked by his PSG teammates who warmly applauded him as he walked onto the training pitch, weeks after he scored a brace in the final in Qatar to win his maiden World Cup title as he and the Albiceleste beat Les Bleus 4-2 on penalties following a thrilling, razor-edged 3-3 draw that could[ve gone either way.
The 35-year-old GOAT was lauded with a gold trophy with a star and his name on it by Luis Campos, the PSG sporting director, to commemorate his World Cup victory.
The Portugal captain’s no less illustrious PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe – who netted a hat trick in the final, returned to PSG days after the final – was not present being away on a club-sanctioned 10-day break in the U.S. alongside his best buddy Achraf Hakimi following their World Cup exploits.
Suggestions of a rift between Messi and Mbappe were quickly denied by head coach Christophe Galtier. Neymar however was there, being one of the first to heartily congratulate his bosom buddy Messi.
Messi’s first soiree upon his return comes in a French Cup round-of-16 tie against Chatearuroux on Friday before the side host Angers next Wednesday in Ligue 1.
The PSG lynchpin has 12 goals and 14 assists for PSG in all competitions this season and news has already emerged that Messi has agreed to stay at PSG next season but was yet to begin official talks over a new deal. His contract at the Parcs des Princes expires in June.