This archive report was first published on 30 August 2021.
Mbappe Steals the Show on Messi's Debut ¶
On Sunday, August 29, 2021, Paris Saint-Germain's 22-man squad, including Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe, took to the field for their Ligue 1 game against Reims.
It was Messi's first club match since joining PSG earlier this month, and the Argentine superstar made a memorable entrance as a 66th-minute substitute for Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG's attacking trident, featuring Mbappe, Messi, and Ángel Di María, proved too much for Reims to handle, with Mbappe scoring twice to seal a 2-0 win.
PSG's coach, Mauricio Pochettino, was thrilled with the performance, saying, 'Our chairman and Leonardo are very clear: he is here with us. I am very happy to have him. He is a gift.'
Reims, however, had their chances, with Ilan Kebbal and El Bilal Touré both coming close to scoring, but PSG's superior quality ultimately told.
As the game wore on, Messi began to make his presence felt, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats as he collected the ball mid-way inside the Reims half in the 77th minute.
With three defenders converging on him, Messi slipped the ball through to Mbappe, who declined to shoot and tried to set up Messi for the goal that many home fans seemed to want.
However, Reims got in the way, and the game ended with PSG securing a 2-0 win.
PSG's victory was a fitting tribute to the city of Reims, which has a rich history dating back over 1,000 years, including the coronation of French kings such as Louis the Pious in 816 and Charles X in 1825.
