Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), has defended the club’s decision not to honor Lionel Messi after his World Cup triumph with Argentina last winter. Messi led his country to a historic World Cup victory, ending a 36-year wait for the title. However, PSG chose not to celebrate the achievement due to concerns that it might create tension among fans, especially considering that Argentina defeated France, led by PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, in the final.

Messi expressed disappointment about not receiving recognition from the club, stating that he was the only player in the squad who didn’t get acknowledgment. Al-Khelaifi, in response, emphasized PSG’s identity as a French club and explained that celebrating an achievement against a French player (Mbappe) could potentially turn the Parc des Princes crowd against Messi.

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Al-Khelaifi acknowledged Messi’s challenging time at PSG, suggesting that the environment at the French club was different from what Messi experienced at Barcelona. He highlighted that in Barcelona, everything was tailored for Messi, including players, coaches, and management, while PSG has a more diverse squad with players like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Messi’s stint at PSG, following his departure from Barcelona, did not go as planned, with the club failing to secure the coveted UEFA Champions League title. The departure of both Messi and Neymar in the same summer marked a shift away from PSG’s previous Galactico philosophy, focusing on building a more balanced squad. Under the management of Luis Enrique, PSG is currently leading Ligue 1 and remains in contention for European honors. Messi, having moved to Inter Miami, is expected to see out his career in Major League Soccer (MLS).

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