What Lionel Messi Said Ahead of His Final Match for PSG

• Lionel Messi leaves PSG after two seasons
• The 35-year-old's farewell match ended in defeat
• He was even jeered by some section of PSG fans

Lionel Messi has said goodbye to Paris Saint-Germain after the club confirmed that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner will leave at the end of the season.

In an anticlimax to his farewell game against Clermont Foot on Saturday, Messi's final game for PSG and possibly his last outing in European football - ended in defeat.

PSG, who were crowned a record 11th Ligue 1 champion, were beaten 3-2 at home by Clermont, having surrendered a two-nil lead scored by the departing Sergio Ramos and Kylian Mbappe, BBC reports.

It was not the perfect end Messi envisaged having missed a couple of chances, including a sitter after being put through on goal by Mbappe, while he was also subjected to boos by some section of PSG fans at the Parc des Princes.

"I don’t play well, I score and I’m seen as the best": Benzema laments about Ballon d'Or criteria

Football

Ahead of his 74th appearance in PSG colours, the mercurial Argentine playmaker said, as quoted by talkSPORT:

"I would like to thank the club, the city of Paris and its people for these two years. I wish you all the best for the future."

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old has been strongly linked with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia, where he can link up with old nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo.

Aside from Saudi's Al-Hilal, FC Barcelona and Inter Miami have all lined up to secure the services of Messi ahead of next season.

PSG fans boo Messi

Relatedly, Messi's name was whistled and booed at by some section of Paris Saint-Germain supporters in his final game for the club, Sports Brief reported.

Having joined the Parisian club in 2021, Messi was billed to feature in his last match for Christophe Galtier's charges against Clermont Foot following the club's announcement of his departure after the end of the season.

Unfortunately for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, he received tough love from a section of PSG's fanbase, who jeered him as his name was announced in the starting XI