Lionel Messi made his first appearance for Paris Saint-Germain, coming on as a substitute in the 66th minute with his team leading Reims 2-0 in the French Ligue 1. The Argentine, wearing his new number 30 jersey for PSG, received a warm welcome as he replaced his friend Neymar in front of a large crowd. This was Messi's first match for a team other than Barcelona.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino said, "He is still far from his best level, but he is training well and will be fit in the next two weeks." He added, "We are expecting the best from him. I am very happy that he made his debut. It was very important for him. He was good. From his first touches, he provided the team with reassurance. It's nice to start with a win."
Pochettino also noted, "It was good to hear the fans cheering for him, not just our supporters; it’s something Leo has earned." Kylian Mbappe scored both goals, which might be his last appearance for the club, as Real Madrid is keen on signing him before the transfer deadline on Tuesday. Real Madrid has made a €160 million offer for the 22-year-old, who has scored 135 goals in 175 matches for PSG.
Mbappe scored his first goal with a header from a cross by Angel Di Maria, and the second from a cross by Achraf Hakimi. Pochettino said, "Kylian is our player, and you know that in football and in business there are always rumors and gossip. I believe our president (the club’s president) and our sporting director have been very clear, and he is still here. I am really happy that Kylian is with us. He is one of the best players and one of the most important players in the world today, and having him with us is a gift."
However, news headlines will center around 34-year-old Messi, who entered the match just moments after the second goal. Tickets for the match were resold for around €6,000 after the club sold more than 20,000 tickets, while before Messi's signing, only about 6,000 were sold.
Ticket buyers may have been disappointed to see Messi on the bench, but he was met with enthusiasm when he started warming up, with fans chanting his name and their cheers intensifying when he stepped onto the field. Messi played some brilliant passes and also drew several fouls. However, he had few touches in the penalty area with no shooting opportunities.
Pochettino remarked, "He brings calm to the team. His energy and optimism reflect on the rest of the team." Messi missed the early matches for Paris Saint-Germain after his free transfer following his exit from Barcelona. This was his first match since winning the Copa America with Argentina in July.
Messi joined Barcelona when he was 13 years old, scoring a record 672 goals in 778 matches for the club. The Argentine player has won six Ballon d'Or awards—a record as well—and is considered one of the greatest football players of all time.
