Lots of people have been talking about Lionel Messi and his future, after Paris Saint-Germain‘s Champions League elimination in Madrid.
However, at the French club there are few doubts about the Argentine star. PSG‘s future plans are still centred around the forward, who intends to see out the two years of his contract – there is no option to sign a third – that he has committed to in Paris.
PSG are dependent on Messi for a few reasons, with the likely departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid and the sporting decline of a Neymar being top of the list.
Moreover, without Mbappe it is very likely that Messi‘s role in the team will change, although it will have to be seen who the next coach is, of course.
This season, Messi has been seen more as a playmaker than a striker. He has been playing deeper, building the play, and giving Mbappe a lot of the attacking responsibility. If Mbappe leaves, Messi could move into a more advanced position in the team.
Messi’s future objectives
There is still a long way to go, but Messi, who is a winner, is already thinking about the next Champions League, a competition that PSG absolutely need to win. He is more than up for this challenge, and that is why he has no hesitation about staying on for his second year.
This season still has to be finished, however, and the first task on the agenda is to wrap up Ligue 1. PSG are 15 points ahead of Marseille and almost everyone believes it’s a foregone conclusion at this point. Messi wants to keep winning titles and Ligue 1 is another he wants to add to his collection.
His individual and collective numbers are not good enough this season to win individual awards and the Ballon d’Or – to be awarded in July this year – is not even up for discussion, while he’s a long way off being Ligue 1 top scorer with just two goals.
Obviously, Messi then has the World Cup in November and December in the back of his mind this whole time. It will be, in theory, his last chance to be a world champion as he’ll be 35 years old, so he’ll be fully focused on that come the time.
It’s not true, as many Argentine media outlets claim, that he only lives for the national team. Being in top form with PSG is the best way to be in top form for the World Cup with Argentina.
Marca
