Lionel Messi endured a frustrating night for Paris Saint-Germain despite Kylian Mbappe’s last-minute winner securing a Champions League first leg victory over Real Madrid.
Messi failed to convert from the penalty spot – meaning he has now gone eight matches without scoring or providing an assist against the Spanish giants.
The Argentine has failed to find his top form since his high-profile summer transfer from Barcelona this summer and he saw his penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois at the Parc des Princes.
In November, Messi landed a record-breaking seventh Ballon d'Or title by scooping the 2021 accolade but he has found the net just twice domestically for PSG in 16 appearances across Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
While his form in front of goal was much better in the Champions League group stage – netting five times – he once again could not find his magic touch in the first leg of the Round of 16 clash.
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It was far from a terrible performance from the Argentine superstar, who provided several key passes to teammates during the match and found space among the visitors backline.
However, it fell short of the expectations that he has set over the past 15 years and missing a penalty meant that it was not his night.
His former Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez, now the head coach at the Camp Nou, has spoken to defend Messi and claimed that such intense scrutiny and criticism was not unusual.
Xavi told his press conference on Wednesday: "It is normal.
"It is normal for Paris Saint-Germain to have criticism and it is normal being Leo Messi and having to face criticism.
"If people only take the penalty, it's normal for there to be criticism.
"I wish him the best.
"For me he will always be the best player in the world."
Messi’s spurned penalty means that he draws level with Thierry Henry for the most missed spot-kicks - a record that the mercurial superstar would not want on his mantle.
It was a fine dive to the right from Real Madrid shot-stopper Courtois, who had a brilliant night after a string of top saves to deny PSG.
"Obviously he shoots a lot of penalties, so it's hard to guess right," Courtois told BT Sport after the game. "He missed a few on this side, so I think it was obvious he was going to the left. Maybe to the middle, he scored one against Leipzig. I just said 'okay, we'll go left', and I had a good save."
Messi will have a chance of redemption and to end his drought in front of goal against the Spanish side in the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on 9 March.
