Ligue 1 reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain will challenge an formidable problem to superstars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to proceed their awe-inspiring World Cup feats by clinching a historic Champions League title within the coming 12 months.
The Qatar-owned membership have European glory of their sights, and a troublesome last-16 tie in opposition to Bayern Munich awaits them, with video games in opposition to the German champions scheduled for February and March.
After witnessing Mbappe win the Golden Boot as high scorer, and Messi take the Golden Ball prize as an impressive participant, PSG undoubtedly had a robust World Cup.
The sight of Mbappe and Messi in opposition with France and Argentina, as they have been in Sunday’s World Cup closing, will quickly get replaced by them uniting on the sphere, presumably even by the tip of the month.
PSG have a Ligue 1 sport in opposition to Strasbourg on Dec. 28, and it stays to be seen whether or not coach Christophe Galtier may have each males obtainable for that sport, given Messi is heading again to rejoice in Argentina within the coming days.
In a string of messages on social media, PSG addressed the 2 chief protagonists within the closing, by which Messi scored twice and lifted the trophy, whereas Mbappe hit a hat-trick however completed on the crushed aspect.
“An extraordinary final from our two Parisians. One of them had to win. You’ll forever go down in footballing history, @leomessi. What a final! Bravo @leomessi, thank you @k.mbappe for all these emotions. You have been heroic. You have marked this World Cup with your talent. You should be proud,” acknowledged PSG.
Whatever French envy there may be in direction of Messi ought to quickly subside, with {a photograph} of Mbappe and Messi touching arms in the course of the sport receiving loads of love from PSG gamers.
Club-mates Nuno Mendes and Danilo Pereira each posted the image, including emojis of applauding arms.
Midfield stalwart Marco Verratti addressed Messi’s success, with an Instagram assertion, “You deserve it, friend. Congratulations.”
To Mbappe, Verratti wrote, “Head high. You showed the whole world that you’re a phenomenon.”
“Congratulations” was the message from defender Juan Bernat to Messi, and “Bravo to you too,” he stated to Mbappe.
Former PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino praised Argentina coach Scaloni, with a message for his compatriot, “Congratulations Lionel. Thank you!”
Addressing Messi, Pochettino added, “Deserved @leomessi. Thank you!”
PSG have by no means gained the Champions League, and it’s the footballing holy grail for them now, with every incoming coach realizing profitable home silverware alone just isn’t thought of to be fulfilling the job remit.
They went closest in 2020, shedding out within the closing to Bayern, for whom Frenchman Kingsley Coman scored the one objective in Lisbon. Coman was one among two France gamers to fail from the spot in Sunday’s World Cup penalty shoot-out, together with Aurelien Tchouameni.
Given the excellent kind that Messi and Mbappe have proven over the past month, PSG could by no means be higher positioned to strike for continental trophy glory.
Yet there may be one other matter brewing, which is that Messi and Mbappe could also be within the closing throes of their membership alliance.
With Messi’s two-year contract at PSG as a result of expire on the finish of this season, eradicating uncertainty over his future would possibly grow to be as essential as the subsequent trophy.
President Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated in early December that the matter could be mentioned after the World Cup, with Messi having been linked with a attainable end-of-season swap to Inter Miami.
