Paris Saint-Germain has finally done it. The club that chased European glory for over a decade has lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy for the first time in its history, delivering a performance that will be remembered for years to come.
The soccer world erupted in celebration. Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Sergio Ramos all took to social media to congratulate the club they once called home. But amid the flood of tributes, one name has notably been absent. Why hasn’t Lionel Messi congratulated PSG on their Champions League triumph yet?
When Lionel Messi arrived in Paris in August 2021, the soccer world stood still. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner (at the time) had just lifted the Copa America with Argentina and was now teaming up with Neymar and Mbappe to form one of the most electrifying frontlines the game had ever seen.
But what was supposed to be a dream partnership quickly turned into something far more muted. “I went through two years which I didn’t enjoy,” Messi admitted in an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in February 2025. “I wasn’t happy on a daily basis, with the training, the matches. I had a hard time adapting to all that.”
In two seasons in France, the Argentine superstar posted 32 goals and 35 assists in 76 appearances. Those are impressive numbers by most standards. But for Messi and for PSG, the union failed to ignite emotionally or tactically. PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi later criticized Messi for lacking “respect” upon his exit, reflecting the strain behind the scenes.
Champions League dreams ending in disappointment
The biggest expectation upon Messi’s arrival in Paris was simple: win the Champions League. But the results were damning. In 2022, the Red-and-Blues threw away a commanding lead against Real Madrid in the Round of 16. In 2023, they were clinically dispatched by Bayern Munich at the same stage. In both instances, the veteran’s performances were subdued, a shadow of his Barcelona brilliance.
By the time he left for Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, the dream was over. The Parisian chapter was closed—and not with fireworks, but with jeers and graffiti. Murals were defaced. Home fans booed his name. Even a World Cup title in Qatar couldn’t fully repair the relationship.
The reason for Messi’s silence revealed
Since moving to Inter Miami, Messi has rediscovered joy on the pitch. Yet, even as the club he once represented reached the pinnacle of European soccer, he has remained publicly silent.
Officially, the 37-year-old’s absence from the congratulatory wave can be attributed to scheduling. Inter Miami hosted Columbus Crew in MLS play the same weekend PSG was lifting the Champions League trophy, in what was their final match before the Club World Cup.
But for those familiar with Messi’s time in Paris, it’s hard not to read more into his silence. The rift with fans, the tense exit, the lack of any meaningful farewell—it all suggests something deeper.
Will he still post a message? Possibly. But if he does, it remains to be seen whether it might be brief or a heartfelt one. A cold one, a mere formality? It’s all up to Messi.
