Lionel Messi, the iconic Argentine footballer, has voiced his displeasure with former club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for their seemingly tepid response to his historic FIFA World Cup win. Often hailed as one of football's greatest, Messi finally clinched the coveted World Cup trophy with Argentina at the tournament in Qatar, also bagging the title of the tournament's best player.
In a candid conversation with Olga, Messi reflected on the lack of acknowledgment he felt from PSG compared to the rest of his Argentine teammates. Messi mused that this oversight might have been due to Argentina's triumph over France, PSG's home country, in the nail-biting final.
"It was understandable. I was in the place where we had won the final and it was our fault that France hadn't won the World Cup this time. I was the only player who didn't get recognition, apart from my 25 other players, but that's OK," Messi told Olga in the interview.
Despite his feelings of alienation at the French club, Messi regards his stint at PSG as an essential phase in his career. He believes that joining PSG set the stage for his World Cup success, suggesting a silver lining to his challenges in France.
"That's how it happened. The truth is that it didn't go the way I expected, but I always say that things happen for a reason and even though I wasn't doing well there, it was my turn to be a world champion there," Messi told Olga.
"Everything happens for a reason and if it had to be like that," Messi further added.
It's worth noting that PSG did recognize Messi's achievement with a video celebrating his return as a World Cup champion. Still, Messi's sentiments suggest that the gesture might have felt insufficient compared to the euphoria surrounding the rest of Argentina's World Cup-winning squad.
At 35, Messi's brilliance shone brighter than ever during the FIFA World Cup 2022. His exceptional form saw him score in every phase of the tournament, a record-setting accomplishment. Messi's two goals in the final were instrumental in Argentina's win, even as France's Kylian Mbappe sought to shift the momentum. With an impressive tally of seven goals and three assists in just seven matches, Messi was omnipresent, featuring in every minute of Argentina's victorious campaign. This World Cup, undoubtedly, stands as a monumental chapter in Messi's illustrious football journey.
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