Lionel Messi reunited with his close friend and teammate Neymar at PSG, after returning from Argentina where he soaked himself in the celebrations of his World Cup triumph. Messi had missed PSG’s three games after club football resumed following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup, where he and his Argentina won the ultimate prize, in Qatar.
And back for PSG against Angers, the talismanic playmaker didn’t need time to settle as he right away continued his form from the global tournament last month, where he had racked up 7 goals and 3 assists in 7 games. Messi was heavily involved in almost every move PSG created in the absence of Kylian Mbappe. However, Messi and Neymar have received some backlash for their game tactics, labelled as ‘grotesque’.
Poverty in the attitudes – journalist hits out at Lionel Messi and Neymar
Not only Lionel Messi continued his great form for PSG, the Argentine once again enjoyed a great link-up play with Neymar, a sight fans have been witnessing since their Barcelona days. The two were almost unstoppable for the Anger defense, constantly causing threat to their fragile defense. It was the away side’s sheer luck that they escaped with conceding just two goals and not get a drubbing at the hands of the South American duo.
However, while their performance was unparalleled, Messi and Neymar were subject to some criticism from After Foot RMC journalist Daniel Riolo. The Frenchman was evidently not happy with the PSG superstars planning a set-piece so cautiously, keeping their mouths covered while talking about it. Riolo told After Foot RMC:
“Poverty in the game, poverty in the attitudes. But the sketch… Every corner, every free kick, Messi comes, Neymar comes, and we discuss the hand in front of the mouth, ‘What do you want to do? It’s me who shoots or it’s you who shoots? Oh well, it’s a corner, we’ll play it with two then’. It’s grotesque, they’re ridiculous! It’s ridiculous! What image it sends.
“Neymar, he is constantly rolling in the mud of ridicule. As soon as you touch him, he falls to the ground, the roulades. He’s bad, he’s bad! Messi, he’s not having a good game, but he’s on top of the world for life so we’ll never say anything because we can’t say anything about ‘ Lionel Messi’ anymore.
We understood that even the free kicks which are on Neymar’s side, it is Messi who will take them. But do you realize how ridiculous it is? They come, they discuss, and ‘I touch the ball, and I replace it’… Neymar, he no longer has the right to do anything. Nothing is consistent.”
While fans enjoyed watching the duo work wonders together, it seems Riolo wasn’t sharing the sentiment. Nonetheless, Messi ensured his side won all three points by netting his first goal of the year in the 72nd minute. Again, it was a piece of art from all involved in that goal, which was initiated by the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner himself. A quick one-two with Neymar, a perfectly weighed outside-of-the-boot pass to Sergio Ramos, and a final pass slid in by Nordi Mukiele was then finished by Messi with his right foot.