PSG’s Messi loses the ball 26 times in a game, gets booed at start

A section from the terraces audibly booed him. It’s said some PSG fans are disgruntled with him, a feeling that has escalated after reports surfacing that he might be reuniting with Barcelona.

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There were high hopes he could lead PSG to an elusive Champions League title, but instead the Qatari-backed club went out in the round of 16 in consecutive seasons. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

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Five days after an emotional Leonel Messi was feted in Argentina with his world-cup winning team-mates, he had a torrid time at the Parc des Princes in Paris for PSG. In a 1-0 loss to Lyon, Messi was first booed from the terraces. He then reportedly lost the ball 26 times during the game, a proper bad day at work.

It started when his name was announced over the stadium loudspeakers. A section from the terraces audibly booed him. It’s said some PSG fans are disgruntled with him, a feeling that has escalated after reports surfacing that he might be reuniting with Barcelona. Messi’s PSG contract ends this summer and the renewal talks are in doubts now; he turns 36 this June.

France’s footballing legend Thierry Henry, a commentator now, said he would like to see Messi end his career with Barcelona.

Not the warmest reception for Messi… https://t.co/ULD0guBItt

— Peter Rutzler (@peterrutzler) April 2, 2023

“For the love of football, he didn’t leave as he should have left,” Henry explained. “I’m happy to see him in the French championship. The whistles (boos) don’t help. Thirteen assists, 13 goals (from 24 Ligue 1 appearances for Messi so far this season). We are talking about the best player in the world.”

“I found it hard to listen to (the whistles),” said PSG coach Christophe Galtier. “There may be expectations for Messi and Mbappe to unlock difficult situations. Messi tries very hard, they didn’t all work out; but around him, the other players also need to do their jobs. Messi tried different things, some passes, situations. There were some technical mistakes in his link-up play. The whistles are hard to listen to because he gives so much, goals, assists.”