Lionel Messi, one of football's all-time greats, recently gave a candid assessment of his two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), describing the experience as “la mierda,” which translates to “s**t.” The remark came during a conversation with Belgian footballer Brecht Dejaegere following a match between Messi’s current club, Inter Miami, and Charlotte FC.
Messi, now 37, left his longtime club FC Barcelona in 2021 to join PSG, aiming to help the French team win the UEFA Champions League. Despite two domestic Ligue 1 titles and a Trophée des Champions, PSG failed to advance beyond the round of 16 in the Champions League during Messi’s time there. His tenure in Paris was marred by a strained relationship with the club’s fans, who regularly booed and whistled him during matches.
After Inter Miami’s match with Charlotte FC, Dejaegere, who played against Messi during his time with Toulouse FC, asked the Argentine about his time in Paris. According to Dejaegere, Messi did not mince words, calling it “s**t.” Dejaegere shared the interaction in an interview with the Belgian news outlet RTBF.
Messi’s frustrations at PSG were well known, and he admitted that leaving Barcelona for the French club was not something he initially wanted. "It was difficult in Paris, but it is quite the opposite of what is going on with me here and now," Messi said, reflecting on his more positive experience since joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). He arrived at the American club on a free transfer in July 2023 after his contract with PSG expired.
Despite PSG’s underperformance in European competition, Messi's individual stats remained impressive. In his final season at PSG, he contributed 21 goals and 20 assists. However, the Champions League title that PSG desired during Messi’s tenure proved elusive.
At Barcelona, Messi won four Champions League titles and was the competition's top scorer six times. He is now enjoying a new chapter with Inter Miami, who recently secured the MLS Supporters’ Shield for the best regular season record.
