{"id":290725,"date":"2023-09-21T19:24:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T19:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=290725"},"modified":"2023-09-21T19:24:19","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T19:24:19","slug":"lionel-messi-takes-aim-at-former-team-psg-again-with-world-cup-jibe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/lionel-messi-takes-aim-at-former-team-psg-again-with-world-cup-jibe\/","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi takes aim at former team PSG again with World Cup jibe"},"content":{"rendered":"
Lionel Messi took aim at Paris Saint-Germain once again Thursday as he claimed he was the only member of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad not to be recognized by his club.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old and the Albiceleste beat France in Qatar last winter to win the 2022 World Cup while he was still at PSG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s spell in Paris came to a sour end and he left the French champions at the end of his contract in summer to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami in mid-July.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Messi, who has enjoyed his start to life in Miami, admitted during an Interview with Migue Granados on OLGA that his stint with PSG didn’t go according to plan.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘It just happened that way. It wasn’t as expected but I always say that things happen for a reason,’ he said. ‘Although I wasn’t happy there [at PSG], I became champion of the world there. Everything happens for a reason, if it had to be that way then…’<\/p>\n
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Lionel Messi\u00a0claimed he was the only World Cup winner not to be recognized by his club<\/p>\n
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The Argentinian won the World Cup during his tumultuous spell with Paris Saint-Germain\u00a0<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
The Argentinian faced PSG teammate at the time Kylian Mbappe in the World Cup final but insisted his relationship with the Frenchman was in a good place, despite suggesting their return to domestic football was slightly awkward.<\/p>\n
Messi did, however, take a dig at PSG by claiming he was the only World Cup winner to not be recognized by his club on his return from international duty.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘With Kylian Mbappe things are good, like with everyone,’ he added. ‘After [the World Cup] it was understandable, we were in a situation where we [Argentina] were world champions and it was our fault that they [France and Mbappe] weren\u2019t champions once again.<\/p>\n
‘I was the only player that wasn\u2019t recognized by his club compared to the other 25 Argentinian players.’<\/p>\n
Messi scored 32 goals in 75 appearances during his time in the French capital, winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles in the process.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, he was unable to guide PSG beyond the last 16 of the Champions League and left for MLS side Inter Miami in June.<\/p>\n
Messi’s time at the club was not without controversy, with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner suspended for two weeks earlier this year after taking an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, suggestions of a\u00a0fractured relationship with fellow forwards Mbappe and Neymar\u00a0dominated the final months of last season.<\/p>\n
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The 36-year-old faced then PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe in the World Cup final<\/p>\n
Messi has already led the MLS club to silverware in the inaugural Leagues Cup and could help them lift another trophy in the US Open Cup final.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, he was forced off during Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over Toronto Wednesday night with head coach Tata Martino admitting that he is now uncertain to play in next week’s US Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo.<\/p>\n
Yet, despite the fatigue Martino claimed the star was feeling, Messi insisted that he hasn’t considered retirement when asked by Granados.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I haven’t thought about it and I don’t want to think about it,’ he said. ‘I just want to carry on enjoying myself. That was the main reason to leave Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I’m lucky to dedicate myself to something I love. Although I have responsibilities and goals, it’s something I have enjoyed since I was a child. But after that, I don’t know. I would like to stay linked to football, as a sporting director or something like that.’<\/p>\n
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n