Lionel Messi Brutally Told He Lacks ‘Professional Conscience’ After Controversial Saudi Arabia Trip

• Lionel Messi has courted controversy over his unapproved trip to Saudi Arabia
• He is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season
• The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's PSG career has been labelled a "total fiasco"

Lionel Messi has been chided by Paris Saint-Germain icon Jerome Rothen following his unapproved trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Argentine playmaker sparked fury from the top hierarchy of PSG, made the trip to the Middle East on the back of the club's shock home defeat against lowly-placed Lorient.

According to CNN, Messi, who appears to be ending his stay in the French capital, has since been slapped with a fine and suspended for two weeks due to his uncharacteristic insubordination.

Rothen, who has previously been outspoken about the 2022 World Cup winner, didn't hold back with criticism, labelling Messi's stint with PSG as a fiasco.

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"Lionel Messi, I don't question his fantastic career or his talent, but his coming to PSG is a total fiasco. And to see that he doesn't even have the professional conscience to say to himself, 'in terms of images," the ex-PSG star said, as quoted by GOAL.

He continued: "It may be inappropriate for me to go there because I was more than useless against Lorient, and we were considered to be losers throughout the match…' When the team is in agony, he is even more in agony. It's not possible when we're talking about the best player in the world."

Messi's Saudi trip sparks PSG fury

Lionel Messi’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia has put the Argentine superstar’s relationship with Paris Saint-Germain’s coach Christophe Galtier and Sporting director Luis Campos in murky waters, Sports Brief reported.

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The 35-year-old forward had initially requested the permission of the two PSG senior officials to travel to Saudi Arabia, where he serves as an ambassador for their 2030 FIFA World Cup bid.

Messi went above the heads of Campos and Galtier to the club’s management, who agreed and granted permission for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to go to Riyadh.

PSG suspends Leo Messi

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Paris Saint-Germain have suspended Lionel Messi for two weeks after his unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. The trip followed the French club's home defeat by Lorient on Sunday, in which Messi played the full 90 minutes.

Neither Galtier nor sporting adviser Luis Campos approved the trip, so the club opened disciplinary proceedings. As a result, the Argentina captain will not train or play for PSG during his suspension.

He will miss the next two PSG games, at Troyes this Sunday and against Ajaccio on Saturday, May 13.