Has Lionel Messi's PSG career been a success?

 

"This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes," PSG boss Christophe Galtier said of Lionel Messi on Thursday. Saturday's welcome of Clermont Foot will spell the end of the Argentine's two-year stint in France, with Messi not short on offers this summer. 

 

There is a lucrative contract to play in Saudi Arabia on the table, while there is also the possibility he makes en emotional return to Barcelona. MLS is another viable destination for the 35-year-old. Despite his advancing years, Messi remains a financially viable commodity and if his PSG numbers are anything to go by, he still has a key role to play for any side. 

 

At the time of writing, Messi has returned a WhoScored rating of 8.31, that better than any other player in Ligue 1 this season, and is one of two players to have managed double figures for both goals (16) and assists (16) in France's top tier. He'll depart PSG with two league winners' medal and a Trophee des Champions medal around his neck, honours that any player would mark as a successful stint in Paris. 

 

And yet, there is the impression that Messi's time with the Parisian powerhouse will have been anything but. When he joined in 2021, Messi arrived to form a star-studded frontline that included himself, former Barcelona teammate Neymar and prodigious forward Kylian Mbappe. The objective was simple - win the Champions League. It's the holy grail for PSG and one that they came within touching distance of back in 2020, ultimately losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon courtesy of a second half Kingsley Coman strike. 

 

Since that defeat, Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and now Galtier have all overseen proceedings at the Parc des Princes, and the latter pair have both failed to have the desired effect in Europe. PSG were knocked out in the semi-finals in 2021, were defeated by Real Madrid at the last-16 stage in 2022, and exited the competition at the same stage at the hands of Bayern back in March. 

 

To have only made it to the last-16 in the last two seasons, both of which were with Messi in the side, isn't a great reflection on the Argentina international. The driving factor behind his capture was to deliver major continential success for the first time since their Cup Winners' Cup triumph in 1996. For a team of PSG's stature with astronomical expectations, winning the league will not satisfy the fervant fanbase, where domestic domiance is considered the bare minimum. 

 

 

As such, there is a sound argument to be made that Messi's time in Paris has not been a success. Looking at just the stats, then the World Cup winner has of course shone. He's scored 22 league goals, ranks first for big chances created (45) and assists (30), and second for shots (212), key passes (152) and dribbles (164), while his WhoScored rating is an impressive 8.06. Yet Messi was supposed to be the final cog to complete this PSG machine to fire them to Champions League glory. Back-to-back last-16 exits highlights a failure in that regard, and in recent weeks, sections of PSG fans have made their frustrations with the former Barcelona man known. 

 

With that in mind, there will little cause for concern when Messi does depart the club this summer, rather supporters may celebrate his exit. PSG were backed to really go far in the Champions League once Messi made the move to Paris, yet that only three fans welcomed the side back to the capital following their title confirmation at Strasbourg last week speaks volumes of the current disconnect between supporters and the club.

 

It's a fair enough assumption to make, then, that Messi's time with PSG has not been a success. Yes, he's won two league titles, but the aim was to deliver Champions League success and they have instead fallen at the first knockout hurdle. Few will shed a tear for his impending exit come full time against Clermont Foot.

Has Lionel Messi's PSG career been a success?