Lionel Messi's time in Ligue 1 McDonald's

Three years ago today, Lionel Messi played his final match for Paris Saint-Germain. We look back at the Argentine's time in Ligue 1 McDonald's.

An arrival greeted with fanfare

Messi's arrival at PSG from Barcelona, where he had spent his entire career prior to the move to France's top-flight, was cause for great fanfare, naturally, and first and foremost, from the PSG fans themselves. On a warm August day, La Pulga emerged from the Parc des Princes alongside Nasser Al-Khelaifi, brandishing a "Messi 30" shirt to the crowd that had gathered. As flares filled the summer sky and the sound of drums reverberated around, it was quite the spectacle.

"I want to thank them for their welcome," said Messi during his presentation. "I want to thank the Parisians. My arrival was a bit mad! It was the cherry on the cake for my arrival [at the club]."

But even rivals were enchanted by the arrival of one of the most decorated and greatest players to ever play the game, maybe even the best, depending on who you ask. "After everything that we have experienced in recent years, a bit of lovelessness had started to creep in. We needed Messi, and he is here!" said Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot.

A dazzling MNM front line

Former Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas added, "We are all delighted... even if it makes the competition even more difficult for us."

Grégory Lorenzi, now of Marseille but sporting director of Brest at the time, continued, "For the football-lovers that we are, seeing one of the best players in the world arrive in Ligue 1 McDonald's is exceptional... even magical."

"Paris est Magique" goes the slogan, and with a forward line of Messi, Neymar Jr., and Kylian Mbappé, there was an element of the surreal as the biggest stars in the game all descended on the City of Light.

First goal for PSG, Lionel Messi style 🇦🇷🔥 pic.twitter.com/EgkCUbCxHf
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) November 20, 2025

However, despite the fanfare, Messi was made to wait to score his first goal in Ligue 1 McDonald's. It didn't come until November 2021, his 20th shot on goal, and a 3-1 win over Nantes. "I am happy to have scored this first goal. I really wanted it," he said.

It wasn't necessarily his goals that led PSG to the title under Christophe Galtier but rather his assists, 15 of them, to be precise, in Ligue 1 McDonald's. Across his first season, the Argentine also netted 11 goals in all competitions, including five in the Champions League, although they were not enough to help Les Parisiens past the Round of 16.

Messi was more prolific in his second - and ultimately final - season at the Parc des Princes. He would score 16 goals as well as register 16 assists in 32 games in Ligue 1 McDonald's. None were as memorable or as important as a last-gasp trademark free-kick against Lille (4-3). Not only did it help PSG to all three points, it ultimately proved vital in the title race. Les Parisiens edged Lens by just one point that season.

3 years since THAT Leo Messi free-kick in the 95th minute 🇦🇷💥 pic.twitter.com/MscfJskaOx
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 19, 2026

That crucial goal was his gift, as his two-year stint would come to a close at the end of that same season. "We had a great experience [...] the city is spectacular. We loved it," Messi has since reflected. Now at Inter Miami, his focus is currently on the World Cup and ending his international career with another piece of silverware.

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