Lionel Messi was jeered by a section of Paris Saint-Germain supporters as he played his final game for the club in the Ligue 1 champions’ 3-2 home defeat by Clermont on Saturday.
Messi’s expected departure from the French giants after two seasons was officially confirmed by PSG in a statement shortly before Saturday’s game.
“His contribution to Paris Saint-Germain and Ligue 1 cannot be underestimated and we wish Leo and his family all the best for the future,” said PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi.
Yet Messi, who ends his PSG career with 32 goals in 75 appearances, was jeered by some fans as the teams were announced at the Parc des Princes and the Argentinian World Cup winner was again whistled sporadically during the match.
There was little riding on the game itself after PSG wrapped up a record 11th French title last weekend, and Christophe Galtier’s side contrived to throw away a two-goal lead.
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Sergio Ramos, whose own departure from PSG was confirmed on Friday, marked his final appearance by heading in a Vitinha cross for the opener in the 16th minute.
Mbappe, looking to end a fifth consecutive season as Ligue 1’s top scorer, then scored a penalty to make it 2-0 with his 29th league goal this season, which he marked by holding up goalkeeper Sergio Rico’s number 16 jersey.
Spaniard Rico, PSG’s back-up goalkeeper, is in a serious condition in hospital in Seville after being injured in a horseriding accident last weekend.
“The most important thing was the tribute to Sergio,” Mbappe told broadcaster Canal Plus.
“There are more important things than football, and on the pitch we were already champions. We could have lost 22-0 and that would not have changed anything for us.
“We had to pay tribute to Sergio. I think we have all been affected by what is an extremely serious situation. We have been worried about that all week and so we tried to pay tribute in the best possible way.”
Mbappe’s goals tally left him two ahead of Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette in the final standings.
Johan Gastien pounced on a Marco Verratti mistake to pull a goal back for Clermont, who then saw Grejohn Kyei miss a penalty.
The visitors then equalised in first-half stoppage time when Mehdi Zeffane netted from close range after Gianluigi Donnarumma spilt the ball.
Kyei got Clermont’s winner in the second half when he turned in a cross with his knee.
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A famous win for Clermont sees them finish the season in eighth place. PSG picked up the championship trophy after the game but end the season with seven league defeats, all of them suffered in 2023.
Messi was signed two seasons ago from Barcelona to help PSG win an elusive Champions League, but he failed in that aim.
The French club were beaten in the Champions League last 16 by Real Madrid last season and suffered the same fate this year at Bayern Munich’s hands.
Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or seven times, has earned an estimated annual salary of 30 million euros ($32.1 million) after tax at Qatar-backed PSG.
Barcelona, the club where he has played most of his career, would love him to return but the possibility has appeared to be fading in recent weeks.
Instead, Saudi Arabia might be his next destination.
A source with knowledge of the Saudi negotiations told AFP last month that it was a “done deal” for him to play in the Saudi league, although Messi’s father Jorge denied then that his son had decided his next destination.
Inter Miami have also reportedly made an offer to take him to Major League Soccer.
