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PSG pays tribute to Messi's international retirement as fans respond with bitterness

As Lionel Messi plays his final match in an Argentina shirt against Benin, PSG paid tribute to him on social media — a gesture immediately criticized by supporters who have not forgotten his difficult spell in Paris.

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PSG pays tribute to Messi's international retirement as fans respond with bitterness
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Paris Saint-Germain paid tribute to Lionel Messi on the occasion of his final match with the Argentina national team, a friendly against Benin played in the night of Tuesday to Wednesday at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires. The Paris club posted a photo of the striker in their colors, accompanied by the message: “The end of an unforgettable chapter with Argentina. Enjoy it well, Leo.”

PSG had welcomed Messi in the summer of 2021, when FC Barcelona, in serious financial difficulty, was forced to let go of its emblematic player. Two seasons later, the Argentine left Paris to join Inter Miami in MLS. His spell in the French capital had been judged disappointing by a large part of observers and supporters.

The club’s post quickly sparked hostile reactions. Several Messi fans expressed their resentment in the comments. “You mistreated our GOAT, we will not forgive you for it,” wrote one. “You mistreated him,” added another.

Neymar, former teammate of Messi at Barcelona and then at PSG, also spoke out to salute the international career of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Messi bids farewell to international football with an exceptional record: a World Cup won in 2022 in Qatar and two Copa America titles, in 2021 and 2024. The evening at the Monumental promises to be a national celebration for Argentina, which says goodbye to the one who took the Albiceleste to its peak.

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