Lionel Messi has made his return to PSG training following the World Cup, receiving a guard of honour from his team-mates and the coaching staff.
It’s just over two weeks since the 35-year-old scored twice in the remarkable final win over France in Qatar, with Messi also converting his spot-kick in the penalty shootout as Argentina ended their 36-year wait for World Cup glory.
Since then he has been back in his home country celebrating the success, though the team’s bus parade through the streets of Buenos Aires had to be abandoned due to chaotic scenes after four million people turned out to greet the players.
Messi is now back in Paris as he looks to help the club finally lift the Champions League for the first time, and he received a warm welcome on his return to the training ground.
“I’m happy to be back,” Messi told the club’s official media.
Leo Messi's return to the Training Center! 🎥✨ pic.twitter.com/ImsS8E0CFC
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 4, 2023
“I’m grateful for the warm welcome from everyone at the club, my partners and the staff. I’m happy and I’m going to get ready for what’s coming up.”
Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final and his penalty in the shootout but still ended up on the losing side, has already played twice PSG since the World Cup.
He started, and scored, against Strasbourg just ten days after the Qatar final, in a match that Neymar was sent off in as he picked up a second yellow card for diving.
