Lionel Messi returns to PSG: World Cup winner given hero's welcome | OneFootball

Lionel Messi has made his triumphant return to Paris Saint-Germain.

The little genius was given an extended break by the club after Argentina’s memorable 2022 World Cup win.

Messi was the star of the show in Qatar, scoring seven goals and winning the coveted Golden Ball award.

But the celebrations for Messi and his Argentine teammates – which looked pretty darn epic – are now over and it’s back to business.

However, before Messi took part in a first training session back at PSG, he was given a hero’s welcome.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner received a Guard of Honour and was then presented with another award while his teammates applauded him.

To borrow an overused cliche, you just love to see it…

Messi always looks so humble, doesn’t he?

It was a lovely celebration of the great man’s historic achievement, although it wasn’t quite as special as the welcome Alexis Mac Allister got from Brighton & Hove Albion.

But given that it was France who lost the World Cup final to Argentina, PSG were never going to go completely wild when Messi arrived.

And that’s fair enough.

Where was Kylian Mbappe?

One player noticeably absent in the footage above is Mbappe, who like Messi lit up the World Cup and the final.

So where was Mbappe? No, he didn’t refuse to acknowledge his teammate.

The French superstar is currently in the United States of America with close friend Achraf Hakimi, with the pair recently attending a basketball game.

And Mbappe was certainly a popular guy at the Barclays Center in the New York borough of Brooklyn.

Like Messi, the guy is a bona fide sporting superstar.

Mbappe and Messi will likely resume their devastating partnership with PSG next Wednesday, when the team host Angers in Ligue 1.

After the team suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to title rivals Lens last time out, the onus will be on them to make a serious statement at the Parc Des Princes.

Neymar‘s return from suspension, that is firmly on the cards.