The UEFA Champions League loss to Manchester City has many pundits second-guessing Paris Saint-Germain’s decision to sign Lionel Messi.
Rafael Van der Vaart, a former player for the Netherlands national, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, and Real Betis, criticized Messi for his performance against the Premier League club.
Van der Vaart compared what Messi is doing with PSG to what Cristiano Ronaldo is doing with Manchester United. The 36-year-old has scored vital goals for The Red Devils, helping them finish first in their Champions League group.
“Messi and Cristiano are two totally different players. But the difference is that Cristiano Ronaldo always looks for his team to advance,” Van der Vaart said, whose remarks were relayed by Marca.
“When you compare Messi with Ronaldo, One is fighting to take his team to the next level – and the other is not. Messi just walks. I look at him and think, ‘Aren’t you ashamed?’ I’m really getting mad at Messi.”
Messi has shown flashes of his FC Barcelona form with PSG, but the international window disrupted any rhythm that he could develop. With Argentina qualified for the FIFA World Cup, Messi can focus solely on improving his play with the French giants.
Despite losing to Manchester City, PSG has qualified for the knockout stages, and now comes the real test, reaching the final. This is where everyone will judge Messi and the rest of the squad for this season.
Van who?
A loser sworn Madridsta pretending he ever cared even when Messi was majestic on the pitch.
You will be remiss not to get his slant. No one is fooled. Trying hard to pitch former team mate at Madrid into balon Dor. Mbappe and Neymar should do the running. Even lions have a leader . Messi walks, runs, crawls, what does it matter? Why act as if Messi’s walk is strange. All he needs do is consult Pep or go watch his matches. He would explain “the walk” that brought 6 balon dors and will turn into a strut to a 7th.
I always tell people Messi walking on the pitch doesn’t bother me……it’s just that psg is not organized that same walking Messi if he was at arsenal he will reap defenders apart…..I watch Messi at psg he is not playing bad I don’t know why football expect so much from this man they will still watch him win world cup cos this Messi looks like he has a plan putting on the Argentina jersey…..I love Messi but the way they criticize him us not fair….. Even psg as a whole is playing rubbish even before they signed Messi let them stop all these BS