In the midst of speculation over his future at the Parc des Princes, Lionel Messi claimed that he is “enjoying” his time at PSG (PSG).
The renowned Argentine star might become a free agent when his current contract expires this summer. In the summer of 2021, he traveled to Paris on a free transfer from Barcelona, but he struggled to acclimate to life there.
In his debut season with PSG, he scored six goals and assisted 15 times in 26 league appearances. That is a disappointing campaign by his standards, especially given that he had never scored fewer than 10 league goals since the 2005-2006 season.
Lionel Messi, 35, has improved this season, scoring 18 goals and assisting 16 times in 29 appearances across all competitions. In a recent interview (h/t @FabrizioRomano), the former Barcelona striker stated:
“I’m in a great place at PSG. My first year in Paris was pretty costly, but now that I’m feeling better, I want to feel at home in both the club and the city. It’s a lot of fun for me. This season began with a different, more zealous start for me.”
It’s understandable that PSG would want to keep Lionel Messi in Paris for as long as possible. According to rumors, they decided to sell Neymar Jr. in order to pay for any potential contract extensions for the Argentine player.
Messi hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down this season. He was just awarded the 2022 FIFA Best Men’s Player and received the Golden Ball in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane has urged PSG’s Lionel Messi to play in the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Cristian Romero, a Tottenham Hotspur player and Argentina international, has backed Lionel Messi to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The latter will be 39 years old during the tournament, but Romero says that shouldn’t stop him from competing. “Cuti” commented in a recent interview with TyC Sports (via FanNation Futbol):
“Di Maria has stated that he will continue to play, and I am hopeful that Leo will as well. Because he played in every World Cup [2022] game, I have a favorable physical impression of him. He will play in the next World Cup, but that is his choice.”
Messi scored seven goals and gave three assists in seven games in Qatar. It is unknown if he will compete in his sixth World Cup when it is held in North America. He has played in the most World Cup games of any player in history, with 26 appearances.