Lionel Messi has been booed at times during his two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain. The PSG supporters more recently booed the Argentine after the capital club’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League against Bayern Munich.
Nonetheless, 1978 FIFA World Cup winner and fellow Argentine Mario Kempes has a theory as to why this 2022-23 season the veteran goal scorer was booed by the home supporters.
“What happens is that he is playing in France: A country that played the final with Argentina that beat him and Messi was [a] figure,” Kempes told Super Deportivo Radio (h/t Mundo Deportivo). “What happens is that it hurts them to see the best player in the world in their team and that he doesn’t perform as he did in Qatar.”
Despite PSG supporters booing the Argentine, Kempes wants the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to remain with the French giants. Messi’s contract expires in June and FC Barcelona is lurking to reunite with the 35-year-old.
However, Kempes notes that it wouldn’t be wise for Messi to return to Camp Nou. Also, some reports suggest that the Argentine will prioritize remaining in the French capital.
Messi will have the final say as he will look to remain in Europe and have one last crack at winning a Champions League trophy, so it’s been nearly a decade since he’s lifted that silverware.
