Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend, made his return to the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) team on Saturday night, but was met with boos from the home fans. The 35-year-old forward had been suspended for two weeks by the club for embarking on an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, where he had a pre-arranged commercial commitment. As a result of the trip, Messi missed training, and PSG head coach Christophe Galtier had to haul his side in on their day off following a 3-1 loss against Lorient.
In the game against Ajaccio on May 13, both teams were reduced to ten men after Thomas Mangani aimed a punch at Achraf Hakimi, who retaliated. Despite the drama, PSG secured a comfortable 5-0 victory, with Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi giving the home side a comfortable lead at half-time. Kylian Mbappe also scored twice in the second half, while Mohamed Youssouf’s own goal compounded the visitors’ misery. Ajaccio’s best chance came in the 67th minute, but Mickael Barreto’s right-footed shot from outside the box just sailed over the bar.
Despite playing the full 90 minutes of the match, Messi seemed subdued throughout the night and was the target of the PSG fans' jeers and whistles when his name was announced over the tannoy before the match. The fans also launched another verbal volley toward the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner when he first touched the ball. A video of the incident was shared on Twitter, showing the extent of the fans' displeasure.
Messi's name booed and whistled by PSG fans 🎶📢 pic.twitter.com/LM3kONKATG
— PENGMAN SPORTS (@PGM_sports) May 13, 2023
PSG, managed by Christophe Galtier, are just four points away from a record 11th French title. With three more fixtures remaining, they are six points clear of second-placed Lens. Messi's two-year contract with PSG is set to expire in the coming weeks, and there is currently no new agreement on the horizon. Rumors have circulated that Messi may follow in the footsteps of his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, by moving to the Middle East, with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal reportedly interested in acquiring the sought-after megastar.