Messi guides PSG to victory on return after World Cup triumph

12.01.2023 - 10:33 guardian.ng

Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SCO Angers at The Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on January 11, 2023. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday on his first appearance since leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup in Qatar.Messi had been rested for PSG’s first three matches following the long break in the season caused by the World Cup but he returned to training in Paris a week ago and was back in the starting line-up for this game against Ligue 1’s bottom side.The win, which came three and a half weeks after he captained Argentina to their World Cup final triumph on penalties against France in Qatar, saw PSG move six points clear at the top of the French table.Neymar also started, having missed his team’s last two matches due to suspension and to undergo treatment on the ankle injury he suffered playing for Brazil at the World Cup.Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe was rested for a second straight game having been afforded time off for a holiday in New York in the wake of his own World Cup campaign, which saw him score a hat-trick in the final but come out on the losing side.Mbappe and Messi are expected to be reunited this weekend in Sunday’s match away to Rennes.In the meantime the absence of the France star meant young striker Hugo Ekitike again started in the home attack at the Parc des Princes and he opened the scoring in the fifth minute from a Nordi Mukiele cross at the end of a move in which Messi also featured.PSG were not at their sparkling best but Messi swept in his 13th club goal of the season to

Football victory cup on Lionel Messi Hugo Ekitike Qatar France Brazil Argentina New York Paris

BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi won the World Cup because the sparkling solid gold trophy picked him to lift it, the Argentine star said in a radio interview aired on Monday (Jan 30).

Messi says World Cup trophy 'called out' to him

The 35-year-old inspired his country to World Cup glory last month by scoring two goals and a penalty in the South Americans' shoot-out triumph over previous holders France following a thrilling 3-3 draw in Qatar. "The cup called out to me, it told me: come and grab me, now you can touch me," Messi told the Argentine Urbana Play radio station. "I saw it sparkling in that beautiful stadium and I didn't hesitate" to kiss it, he added, referring to the stunning Lusail Stadium in Doha, where the final was played. Messi finally lifted the trophy in his fifth and final World Cup tournament, having lost in the 2014 final to Germany. He also played in three losing Copa America finals before finally clinching that trophy in 2021. "After so much suffering and lost finals, God kept it for me," said Messi of the World Cup. He thus became the first Argentina captain since Diego Maradona in 1986 to lift the World Cup. "I would have liked Maradona to hand me the cup, so he could at least see Argentina champions." Maradona died of a heart attack two years ago. "From up above he gave me strength, as did so many people who love me." Many people expected Messi to retire, at least from international duty, after the Qatar triumph but he decided to continue so he could take to the field with his teammates as world champions.

World Cup star Mbappé gets 5 goals for PSG in French Cup win

PARIS: Kylian Mbappé scored five goals, including a 12-minute hat trick in the first half, as Paris Saint-Germain won 7-0 at amateur team Pays de Cassel in the French Cup on Monday to set up a round-of-16 match at bitter rival Marseille. It was his first hat trick since France’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina on Dec. 18.

Argentine corn field planted with face of World Cup winner Messi

LOS CONDORES, Argentina : Lionel Messi has been immortalized in Argentina in tributes ranging from tattoos to murals after leading the national team to win the soccer World Cup. Now his face can be seen from the heavens too - on a specially designed corn field.

FIFA charges Argentina over World Cup final celebrations

ZURICH: FIFA opened a disciplinary case against the Argentine Football Association on Friday for alleged offensive player misconduct and violations of fair play at the World Cup final. FIFA cited its media and marketing regulations for prosecuting the case, which appears to relate to a boisterous celebration by players running through the interview zone after the game on Dec. 18. Argentina beat France in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. About three hours later, players led by captain Lionel Messi ran and sang through the official interview area and damaged flimsy partition walls without stopping to speak to international broadcast and print media.

Mbappe and Hakimi return to PSG training after post-World Cup break

France’s forward Kylian Mbappe takes part in a training session at the Jassim-bin-Hamad Stadium in Doha on November 20, 2022, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)