Lionel Messi takes aim at former team PSG again and claims he was the ONLY World Cup-winning Argentina player not to get recognition from his club
- Lionel Messi won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina during his stint with PSG
- He left the French Capital in June at the end of his contract to join Inter Miami
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off!
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘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…’
Lionel Messi claimed he was the only World Cup winner not to be recognized by his club
The Argentinian won the World Cup during his tumultuous spell with Paris Saint-Germain
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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.
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.
‘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’t champions once again.
‘I was the only player that wasn’t recognized by his club compared to the other 25 Argentinian players.’
Messi scored 32 goals in 75 appearances during his time in the French capital, winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles in the process.
However, he was unable to guide PSG beyond the last 16 of the Champions League and left for MLS side Inter Miami in June.
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.
Meanwhile, suggestions of a fractured relationship with fellow forwards Mbappe and Neymar dominated the final months of last season.
The 36-year-old faced then PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe in the World Cup final
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.
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.
Yet, despite the fatigue Martino claimed the star was feeling, Messi insisted that he hasn’t considered retirement when asked by Granados.
‘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.
‘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.’
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