Manager Christophe Galtier has confirmed that Lionel Messi will be playing his final game for Paris St-Germain (PSG) against Clermont on Saturday. The news comes after reports in May indicated that the 35-year-old Argentine forward would be leaving the club when his contract expires this summer.
Having joined PSG on a free transfer from Barcelona in July 2021, Messi played a significant role in helping the team secure two consecutive Ligue 1 titles. Galtier expressed his privilege at coaching “the best player in the history of football” and emphasized that Messi’s last match at the Parc des Princes deserves a warm reception from the fans.
Concerns over security arose last month, leading PSG to increase security measures at the residences of Messi, forward Neymar, midfielder Marco Verratti, and Galtier due to fan protests. This followed a defeat against Lorient and Messi’s suspension for two weeks after traveling to Saudi Arabia without PSG’s permission, for which he later apologized to his teammates.
After captaining Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, Messi seemed poised to extend his stay at PSG upon his return from the tournament. An agreement in principle was reached to extend his contract by one year before both parties had a change of heart.
During this season, Messi has contributed 21 goals and 20 assists in all competitions for PSG, accumulating a total of 32 goals in 74 matches for the club. Despite his presence, PSG has been eliminated from the Champions League at the last-16 stage in the past two seasons.
Spanish football writer Guillem Balague has indicated that Messi will soon make a decision about his future, but he will not be returning to Barcelona, the club where he spent 21 years. The football world eagerly awaits the next chapter in Messi’s illustrious career.
