Paris Saint-Germain fans are setting expectations for Lionel Messi with a chorus of mixed reactions after the club was knocked out of the Champions League. This development was noted on X by journalist Dani Gil.
“We boo him, he earns a lot from his on-field work. We don’t want this to continue,” he stated, underscoring a tension that has followed Messi beyond the pitch.
The upcoming fixture with Rennes is scheduled for March 19, as PSG looks to rebound in the 28th round of France’s top-flight league, seeking a clear, positive response from the home crowd.
On March 8, PSG was eliminated from the Champions League after a 0-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the second leg of the round of 16, ending their run in the competition for the season. Messi, then 35, played the full 90 minutes in both legs, leaving a lingering question about his long-term role with the club and the squad’s ambitions in Europe. [citation]
In the previous season, the club also bowed out at the same stage, losing to Real Madrid and ending their European campaign there, which added to a narrative of missed opportunities at the continent’s premier club competition. [citation]
Messi’s contract with PSG was set to expire in the summer of 2023, and since then the football world has seen shifts in his club career as he moved on to new challenges beyond Paris, continuing to draw attention from fans and analysts alike. During his time in Ligue 1, he made a notable impact in the matches he featured, providing goals and assists that highlighted his continued influence on the field. [citation]
Earlier reports circulated that the Saudi club Al-Hilal might pursue Messi with a contract reported to be worth £194 million per season, a figure that sparked widespread discussion about the next phase of the player’s career. [citation]