Lionel Messi: Fans debate whether he 'meant' Neymar assist v Clermont | OneFootball

Lionel Messi‘s Parisian adventure has entered its second season and already the omens are very good.

After a difficult first campaign in the colours of PSG, Messi is already showing ominous signs that he could be returning to his scintillating best after just one game of the regular season.

He and Neymar were certainly cooking in pre-season and, as PSG travelled to take on Clermont in their Ligue 1 opener, many would have been hoping for more of the same.

That is exactly what they got as PSG took the attack to their hosts with Neymar and Messi acting as the tormentors in chief.

They ran the poor Clermont defence ragged and, eventually, linked up to score the opening goal of the clash.

Or did they?

Well the debate is raging online as to whether or not Messi meant his sultry little touch in the build-up to Neymar lashing home into the bottom corner.

Attacking a cross at speed, Messi seemed to miss-control the ball, with it fortunately falling at the feet of Neymar who, in turn, did the rest.

However, some fans believe that Messi meant every little bit of what happened and, if so, it has to go down as a sublime assist.

Super slow-motion footage has emerged showing the moment, which you can check out below and then make up your own minds.

https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1555995529850634242

What do you think? Intentional, or just a happy accident?

If he really did mean it, then it is surely another moment of genius from the great man.

In reality, we may never know if he truly planned it all out but, either way, it makes for an interesting debate.

PSG would go on to to double their lead before the break through a scintillating counter-attacking goal.

Achraf Hakimi blazed the ball into the back of the net following a rapid flood upfield that Clermont were just powerless to stop.

At the time of writing, the score was 3-0 to the Parisians.