PARIS – Lionel Messi will celebrate his World Cup triumph by agreeing to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, the local media claimed on Wednesday, as he attempts to steer the French side to an elusive Champions League title.
The 35-year-old, who led Argentina to victory in the World Cup final against France in Qatar on Sunday, will pen a one-season extension to his current deal which expires in the summer.
Le Parisian and RMC Sport reported that Messi will sit down with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and other top club officials when he returns to the French capital after his World Cup break.
Messi joined PSG in 2021 on a two-season deal, with an option for another year, after having spent his entire professional career with Barcelona.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner collected four Champions League titles in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015 in Spain as well as 10 La Liga crowns.
On Sunday, he inspired Argentina to a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over France after the epic match had finished 3-3 in extra-time.
Messi, named player of the tournament, scored twice with PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe grabbing a hat-trick for France.
La Albiceleste’s first World Cup win since 1986 helped them climb one spot to world No. 2 in the Fifa world rankings, just below top-ranked Brazil. France also rose a rung to No. 3, with Belgium dropping to No. 4.
A win against Les Bleus in normal or extra time would have propelled Argentina to world No. 1.
They trail Brazil by just 2.39 points.
It was also reported that Messi had wanted to showcase his World Cup trophy to his fans at the Parc des Princes when PSG take on Strasbourg at home on Wednesday.
However, the club management has been reluctant to allow that as there are fears of consequences in France.
But in Argentina, the World Cup win was celebrated all over the country.
Its capital Buenos Aires was turned into a massive street party on Tuesday as millions of people turned up to give the national team a hero’s welcome after their return from Qatar.
It was clear that Argentinians are eternally grateful to Messi as tattoo artists have been hard at work, inking the image of the captain on the bodies of fans.
“I knew lots of people wanted tattoos of Messi and the team because they had already booked me before the final,” said tattoo artist Sebastian Arguello Paz, wearing the jersey of national goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
“I never imagined there would be a queue at the shop the next day.”
He added that the phone in his studio had been ringing non-stop with enquiries about tattoos of Messi, the World Cup and Argentina flags.
Fan Ramiro Solis, 44, said: “I had decided not to get more tattoos but, when I saw Messi lift the World Cup, I was sure this guy deserved a tattoo.” AFP, REUTERS
