Lionel Messi has hit the ground running this 2022-23 football season with Paris Saint-Germain. The 35-year-old has scored six goals and recorded seven assists in 11 appearances for the capital club.
During an appearance on BBC 5 Live Sport on Tuesday, ESPN’s Julien Laurens stated that many in France are relishing the moment of having the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar playing each week in Ligue 1.
“It’s just been a joy to watch and I think people more and more now in France thinking, okay, we need to enjoy this, we need to enjoy this trio,” Laurens added. “The Messi and Neymar duo as well because it’s an absolute joy to have them in our league.”
Additionally, for the French journalist, having another year to adapt to Paris is vital, but the FIFA World Cup also plays a role in the veteran forward experiencing good form.
“I think also the fact that he and his family have had time to settle in Paris and to be a bit happier there and to get used to Paris life,” Laurens said. “Which is very different to Barcelona has helped as the World Cup coming up because I think there’s a lot of people in France who think, ‘OK will we see the same Messi in the second half of the season?’
“This is also because there’s a World Cup, and this is the last one, and Argentina have such great dynamics, so positive that they can do something very special there. And that’s why he’s so pumped and that’s why he’s so ready and so eager to do well and everything.”