In the Ligue 1 losses against Lyon on Sunday and Rennes before the international break, it was just a little piece of the Stadium that booed.
The Paris crowd has a long history of being extremely hostile—and not just in football. It has forever been this way and are consistently difficult to please. Neymar and other PSG greats of the past, such as Rai, George Weah, and Ronaldinho, experienced the same fate as Lionel Messi.
However, booing arguably the greatest player ever is a different matter. Some people find it disrespectful; a supporter’s right for others, particularly when they are dissatisfied.
The 35-year-old Messi’s performances since the beginning of the year are to blame for some fans’ dissatisfaction with him. After an excellent first 50% of the time, Messi’s form has dropped emphatically since his World Cup-winning camping with Argentina.
Prior to joining Qatar, Messi scored once every 138 minutes and assisted once every 118 minutes in all competitions. Now, he scores once every 210 minutes and assists once every 420 minutes in all competitions. Even though he still creates opportunities, Messi’s impact on games has been significantly reduced.
In the 90 minutes of play on Sunday against Lyon, he gave the ball away 26 times. Additionally, Messi’s 26 appearances are unusual for a player of his caliber. His performance this year up to this point, have been problematic, fuelling the fact that, Messi simply needed to be at his best for the World Cup and couldn’t care less about anything more, however he is apparently discontent with his form and being provoked by his own fans.
As at now, it is unlikely that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will remain in the French capital for the next season. Despite the principle agreement they reached prior to the World Cup, both Messi and PSG are unsure about continuing their relationship after his contract expires in June 2023.
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Furthermore, a source claims that Messi is actively considering a move to Al Hilal, the city rivals of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. The fact that Messi is currently flirting with former team Barcelona, MLS side Inter Miami, and a number of Saudi clubs has not gone over well with the fans of Paris.
PSG are not in their best at the moment. In the year 2023, they have lost three of their last four games, six of their last ten, and eight of their last 18 overall. Since the Qataris assumed ownership in the summer of 2011, these numbers have not been seen before.
Manager Christophe Galtier has had a nightmare the past three months. His job is under a lot of pressure, and another bad result this weekend at Nice or at home against Lens in 10 days will almost certainly result in his firing.
At the present time, the choices about whether the star threesome of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe all stay next season or whether Galtier gets one more year to show off his abilities, are unsettled.
Reversing the situation must be the primary focus. On the field, something needs to change, and the upcoming weeks will be the most significant in the club’s recent history. Otherwise, the Parc des Princes will continue to be surrounded by boos.