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Lionel Messi didn’t care for the boon in his final game for Paris Saint-Germain as the French league champions lost 3-2 to Clermont on Saturday. On a warm evening at the Parc des Princes, Messi was booed by outraged PSG supporters when the announcer read out Messi’s name. Minutes later, Messi walked onto the field with a smile on his face, held the hands of his three children in front of the team photo and kissed them on the forehead before kickoff. “I want to thank the club, the city of Paris and its people for these two years. I wish you all the best for the future,” Messi told the club’s website.
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In two seasons at PSG, messi Won two French leagues and the French Champions Trophy and scored 32 goals and 35 assists in all competitions. Messi scored in a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg a week ago to help PSG clinch a record 11th French league title. Argentine genius also scores 496th career league goal Broke Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring record For Europe’s top five leagues.
Messi getting booed on his last game for PSG LMAOOOOO pic.twitter.com/uJ3tzOhDAh— Albi__ (@albiFCB7) June 3, 2023
The World Cup winner did not sign the contract extension that Qatar-backed PSG offered him and has been strongly linked with a move to a Saudi club where he could earn more money than Ronaldo. Inter Miami is another possible option, but will not be able to match Saudi Arabia’s multimillion-dollar offer.
Messi tried hard to get on the scoresheet on the last day of the French league. He turned down a shot by Claremont goalkeeper Mori Diaw in the 14th minute, fired a snapshot wide in the 31st minute and fired a free kick over the bar in the 42nd minute.
A selfless Kylian Mbappe scored a solo run to tee up Messi in the 54th, blazing over the bar. Messi almost scored in the 59th but Diaw curled his low drive around the post. Diaw again denied Messi in stoppage time, scored the free kick.
_ This is the photo you’ve been waiting for! Paris Saint-Germain is the champion of France for the 1__1__th time in its history! #HistoryIsMadeInParis , pic.twitter.com/WUe2gzP5WV– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) June 3, 2023
After the final whistle, Messi hugged his teammates and shook hands with Clermont players. PSG took a 2-0 lead with Sergio Ramos’ header in the 16th goal and Mbappe’s penalty in the 21st minute.
But before half-time, Clermont equalized with goals from Johan Gatin and Mehdi Zefane. Greyjon Kyi scored the winner in the 63rd by converting a cross.
Despite his aging legs, Messi has created moments of magic this season; an overhead kick against Clermont last August, a ball over the top for Mbappe to score against Lille in August which was the joint-fastest goal in the league, a free kick in stoppage time to beat Lille in February, and Embappé against Brest in a perfectly timed throughball march. There were expectations Messi would stay in Paris for another year after expressing his happiness at the club in March.
“Yes, it is true that I feel good,” Messi told the club’s website. “The first year, I needed a little time to adapt to Paris for different reasons, but I started this season really differently, with a lot of desire. I want to work with the club, with the city, with Paris Feel more comfortable with everything. And the truth is I’m really enjoying this season.
But the mood changed after PSG’s exit in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Messi was expected to be the missing piece of the puzzle for the club in its quest for a maiden Champions League trophy. But PSG lacked the structure and balance of the Argentine team with Julian Alvarez up front and Rodrigo de Paul on the right wing doing the dirty work for Messi.
Coronation evening in the Parc des Princes. ,#HistoryIsMadeInParis , pic.twitter.com/2nVPNfubw7– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) June 3, 2023
Messi has been mocked by PSG fans over the past few months as his form dropped after helping Argentina win the World Cup.
Then relations with the club soured last month when Messi was suspended by PSG after an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia. Messi has a business contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism in that country.
Despite the embarrassment for Qatar, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelafi showed no hard feelings on Saturday. “His contribution to Paris Saint-Germain and Ligue 1 cannot be underestimated and we wish Leo and his family all the best for the future,” Al-Khelaifi told the club’s website










