Lionel Messi, a FIFA World Cup and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, had returned to Paris after steering Argentina to the pinnacle of football after 36 years.
There was a guard of honour from the players and a light-hearted banter with former Barcelona teammate Neymar, but then began the nightmare.
The 36-year-old was booed at every touch of the ball by the Paris Saint-Germain fans — his own club. Thousands jeered at the Argentine, the slurs and abuses getting nastier and louder whenever he went to take corner kicks.