With his goal in Strasbourg on Saturday, synonymous with the title for PSG, the Argentinian has conquered new records. In the absence of the heart of the supporters.
How to judge Lionel Messi’s two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain? Is the glass half empty or half full? One thing is certain, the trophy cabinet overflows even more after his visit to the capital. By scoring the Parisian goal in Strasbourg (1-1), Saturday May 27, the Argentinian made a resounding double blow: he thus became the top scorer in the history of the five major European championships (496 achievements) and he joins Brazilian Dani Alves at the top of the world rankings with 43 trophies.
Two crucial statistics while the end of Messi’s career at PSG is written rather in lowercase. This is the whole paradox of Leo’s adventure in Paris, a club which allowed him to win his supreme dream, the World Cup with his country, at the same time as it somewhat tarnished his image. Between shadow and light, the sevenfold Ballon d’Or is about to leave the capital leaving a feeling of unfinished business. Almost a mess.
The two European campaigns under his era, with pitiful eliminations against Real Madrid and then Bayern, did not help to make Messi the idol of the Parc des Princes. Nor is his lack of interest in defensive withdrawal and communion with the fans. Where the Camp Nou passed everything to its king, the Parisian public will never have truly dubbed it. Worse, he even shouted at him.
However, from a strictly accounting point of view, Lionel Messi has taken another step in the colors of PSG. His 496th goal thus allows him to overtake an old acquaintance at the forefront of directors in history in the five major championships, a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese counter, since he went into exile in Saudi Arabia, has remained stuck at 495 units. To give an idea of the gulf that separates the two-headed hydra Messi-Ronaldo from the rest of the mortals, the 3rd in this ranking, the Englishman Jimmy Greaves (who played for Chelsea and Tottenham in the 60s) has “only” 366 goals .
If the World Cup recently won in Qatar is obviously the high point of the season, and of Lionel Messi’s career, the latter will not spit on the title of champion of France with Paris. Especially since the latter allows him to join Dani Alves at the top of the pyramid of the biggest winners in the history of football.
With 43 titles, Messi therefore equals the Brazilian, and ex-teammate at Barça. Her imprint, if she still needed it, sinks a little deeper into the marble of glory. At 36, the Argentinian does not have much time left to seize the honorary throne alone. But if he succeeds, it should not be in the jersey of PSG where the genius is about to close a disenchanted parenthesis.