Lionel Messi scored a stunning free-kick to open the scoring for Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday evening’s Ligue 1 clash against Nice.
It was a pinpoint free-kick from the Argentine superstar in the 28 th minute of the clash at the Parc des Princes, after he was fouled in the centre of the D of the opposition side’s penalty area. He bent the ball superbly over the wall with his left boot, though Nice cancelled it out with an equaliser just after half-time.
The sublime finish was illustrative of the confidence and form of Messi, though, who has been among the goals in recent weeks having endured a comparatively lean spell in front of goal during his first full season at the French club following his high-profile move from Barcelona a year ago.
Messi netted just six goals across 27 domestic matches last season at Les Parisiens, and despite helping his new team ease to the Ligue 1 title – it was viewed as a disappointing campaign on a personal basis for the Argentine.
He had joined the club on the eve of the 2021/22 campaign, having expected to renew his contract at the Camp Nou – before being informed at the eleventh hour that they were not in a position to do so due to their financial situation.
It was anticipated that Messi would team up with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to turn Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG into contenders for the Champions League – a trophy which the club have never won – but they were eliminated from the Round of 16 in the competition by Real Madrid, and Pochettino left the club at the end of the campaign.
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Messi’s goal on Saturday evening was his fifth in the league this season in just nine matches – leaving him just one goal shy of equalling his tally for the entirety of the last campaign in the division. The 35-year-old has also netted seven goals in his last five matches for club and country.
The forward scored in PSG’s Champions League victory at Maccabi Haifa before netting the only goal of the game as Christophe Galtier’s team earned a slender victory at Olympique Lyonnais before the international break.
Messi’s form in front of goal continued for Argentina, as he netted a brace for Lionel Scaloni’s side against Honduras before bagging a double against Jamaica – both friendly matches coming in preparation ahead of this winter’s World Cup finals in Qatar.
