Lionel Messi Scores For PSG In First Appearance Since World Cup Win

Lionel Messi reportedly scored a goal for Paris Saint-Germain in his first game back since lifting the World Cup.

Lionel Messi, 35, had been rested for PSG's first three matches following the long break in the season caused by the World Cup. He returned to training for PSG in the new year after taking some time off and returned to action with a goal from close range in PSG’s 2-0 win against Angers on Wednesday, Jan. 11, CNN reported.

Messi also paid tribute to Pelé before the match. He joined his teammates in wearing a t-shirt with the Brazilian’s face on it during the warmup.

The win against Angers saw PSG move six points clear at the top of the French table. The win came three and a half weeks after Messi captained Argentina to their World Cup final triumph on penalties against France in Qatar. PSG currently sits comfortably at the top of the league despite Christophe Galtier having to switch up his team as he eases players back in after the World Cup, Yahoo News reported.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé, a beaten finalist in Qatar, was rested for Wednesday’s match.

The young striker Hugo Ekitike started in the home attack at the Parc des Princes and opened the scoring in the fifth minute. In the second half of the match, Messi swept in his 13th club goal of the season to make it 2-0 with 17 minutes left.

The win on Messi’s return is some welcome good news for PSG. The team lost in the league for the first time this season last week, 3-1 away to Lens.

“Yes, it was very important to get back to winning ways. We have rivals who are pushing hard,” Galtier said.

“We knew that we were going to have a difficult match because Angers is a team that plays good football and poses big problems on a tactical level. I also insist on the fact that the situation – post-World Cup – means that we have had a lot of players absent, that the group was very scattered and that, little by little, everyone is coming back and reconnecting.”

PSG, which is six points clear atop the table, plays Rennes in its next game on Sunday, Jan. 15.