Lionel Messi experienced humiliation during his tenure at Paris Saint-Germain after the club disciplined him for traveling to Saudi Arabia without approval. The Argentine forward, who played for PSG from 2021 to 2023, faced temporary exclusion from the senior squad as a consequence. This incident reportedly soured Messi’s relationship with the club during his final season before moving on to Inter Miami.
Messi left Barcelona in the summer of 2021 due to their financial troubles, signing for PSG where he contributed 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances. Despite these numbers, his spell in Paris was fraught with difficulties, culminating in a strained exit after the Saudi Arabia trip led to punishment and a forced public apology, further damaging ties with PSG.
Insights Into Messi’s Struggles in Paris from His Own Words
In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe earlier this year, Messi revealed the emotional toll of his two years at PSG. Reflecting on his decision to join Inter Miami, he stated,
“Coming to play for Inter Miami was an opportunity and the way things developed during my last years in Paris, although it was a decision that I had to make on the go, because I had to leave from Barcelona, I went through two years which I didn’t enjoy.”
He further described his adaptation woes while at PSG, explaining,
“I wasn’t happy on a daily basis, with the training, the matches. I had a hard time adapting to all that. I felt called to come to Inter [Miami] because it’s a club that’s growing, very new, with few years as a club.”
Context of Messi’s Time at PSG and Achievements Amid Challenges
Despite the personal and professional struggles, Messi achieved notable success during his PSG years by helping Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Finallisima. However, his club-level impact did not match the prolific standards set at Barcelona. His unhappiness and the public fallout with PSG management reflected the tense atmosphere in his last season with the Parisiens.
The episode involving the unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia and the subsequent punishment remain significant markers of the fractured relationship, highlighting how off-field issues contributed to Messi’s decision to resume his career in Major League Soccer.