Lionel Messi Signing

Lore & Background

Before the season proper, PSG were widely characterized as a dream team, as they acquired the 2021 Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, the 2021 Yashin Trophy winner Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ballon d'Or Dream Teamer Sergio Ramos, and the Netherlands vice-captain Georginio Wijnaldum, while spending close to €100 million on other transfers (such as Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi) and turning down an offer north of €200 million for Kylian Mbappé, in the summer transfer window. PSG would go on to win the Ligue 1 title back, but were eliminated from the Coupe de France by Nice in the round of 16. They suffered an exit at the same stage of the Champions League to Real Madrid, surrendering a 1–0 first-leg lead to lose 3–2 on aggregate.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights at Parc des Princes hummed as the crowd roared, a sound unlike any PSG had heard before. Messi stood near the halfway line, the blue and red of his kit contrasting with the green grass. He didn't need to shout; one glance at Neymar or Mbappé was enough to start the dance. As the ball rolled toward him, time seemed to slow. The Argentine received it on the outside of his boot, shielding it effortlessly before unleashing a pass that sliced through the defense like a hot knife through butter. In that split second, Paris wasn't just hosting a football match; it was witnessing history being written in real-time.

Reader's Guide

The source article does not provide details on how the trio of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé was commonly referred to, nor does it specify Messi's squad number or any retirement of numbers by Barcelona. The source is silent on these points.

Did You Know?

• PSG acquired the 2021 Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi in the summer transfer window.
• PSG turned down an offer north of €200 million for Kylian Mbappé in the same window.
• PSG lost the Trophée des Champions for the first time in nine years in the 2021–22 season.