Lionel Messi and Neymar booed by PSG fans for Champions League failure

Planet Sport writer
13 March 2022

Paris Saint-Germain fans didn't give Lionel Messi or Neymar the warmest of receptions during their 3-0 win over Bordeaux on Sunday.

Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Leandro Paredes ensured PSG extended their lead at the top to Ligue 1 by 15 points.

PSG are closing in on recapturing the French title after losing out to Lille last season but fans could not hide their frustrations at yet another collapse in the Champions League.

The Paris club looked in control against Real Madrid after leading 2-0 on aggregate at half-time.

However, an error from Gianluigi Donnarumma contributed towards an extraordinary collapse by PSG with Karim Benzema scoring a hat-trick to knock them out of the competition.

The fallout has continued and fans booed Messi - who is regarded as one of the greatest to have graced the game - alongside fellow South American forward Neymar.

Neymar scores for PSG and is met with a mixture of cheers and jeers 😖

Extremely muted celebrations from the Brazilian and Lionel Messi... pic.twitter.com/xoNFye1Rc6
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 13, 2022

PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino told the club's website: "We are all disappointed after the Champions League game but we cannot stop.

"To change the past is impossible, only what we need to affect is the future and of course we need to learn.

"We need to know what we need to do to try to improve but I think the three points today were important to be in a good position in the table."

Money badly spent?

Neymar remains the world's most expensive player after signing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for £199.5million.

The ex-Barcelona ace has notched up 92 goals in 136 appearances for Les Parisiens and while he has won three league titles during his time, he is yet to win the top competition in Europe.

In 2020, they reached the final only to lose to Bayern Munich while last season PSG were knocked out in the semi-finals to Manchester City.

Messi joined Neymar at the club this season on a free transfer after Barcelona were unable to offer him a new deal. He signed a three-year deal believed to be worth £94million.

Messi was seen as the final piece in the jigsaw. Neymar, Mbappe and Messi were seen as the trio to guide PSG to European glory.

However, since his arrival to the French capital, goals have dried up for Messi and they tasted eliminated in the Champions League last 16 this week.

He currently has just two goals in 18 league games and seven from 26 in all competitions. With the appointment of Xavi at Barcelona, it will now spark rumours of a reunion between the duo at the Camp Nou.