Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has reflected on his challenging stint at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), offering a blunt assessment of his time in the French capital. Messi, now 37, left Barcelona in 2021 for PSG with the hope of leading the French club to success on the European stage. However, after two seasons in Paris, the Argentine star has shared less-than-favorable memories of the experience.
In a conversation with Belgian midfielder Brecht Dejaegere (33), Messi summarized his time at PSG with a single word: “la mierda,” which translates to “s**t” in English. Dejaegere, who now plays for Kortrijk in Belgium, recently recounted the exchange to Belgian outlet RTBF after facing Messi in a Major League Soccer (MLS) match between Inter Miami and Charlotte FC.
During his two seasons with PSG, Messi won two Ligue 1 titles and the Trophée des Champions, but he fell short of delivering the ultimate prize: the UEFA Champions League. Despite being part of a star-studded squad that included Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, PSG was eliminated in the Round of 16 in both seasons Messi was at the club.
The Argentine captain, who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, faced constant criticism from PSG supporters, often being whistled and booed during matches. Reflecting on his time in Paris, Messi mentioned, “It was difficult in Paris, but it is quite the opposite of what is going on with me here and now,” referring to his current success with Inter Miami.
Before joining PSG, Messi spent over two decades at Barcelona, where he secured four Champions League titles and topped the tournament’s scoring charts six times. Though his time at PSG didn’t meet his or the club’s expectations in Europe, Messi still performed at a high level, registering 21 goals and 20 assists in his final season before leaving on a free transfer to MLS in July 2023.
Now with Inter Miami, Messi has found a fresh start. His new team recently won the MLS Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the club with the best record in the regular season.
