Paris Saint-Germain have won the Ligue 1 title after a 1-1 draw with Lens on Saturday, with Lionel Messi scoring a goal on his way to winning his first trophy in France since joining the club on a free transfer.
The Argentine has only scored four goals in 22 appearances for the French giants this season, despite the fact that many supporters expected him to break some of his records in Spain because the French league is less competitive.
Mauricio Pochettino’s squad won the title with four games to spare, reclaiming the title from Lille after their surprise victory in the 2020-21 season.
The title was won with ease, despite the fact that their recent Ligue 1 triumph drew whistles and jeers from the Parc des Princes fans after a less-than-stellar performance.
How did PSG come out on top in Ligue 1?
PSG has reclaimed the league crown from Lille after winning 24 of their 34 games, with only six draws and four defeats.
The Parisians have the greatest offensive in the competition, with 76 goals scored, thanks to Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar leading the charge, as they’ve surged 15 points clear of second-placed Marseille.
Pochettino’s side also boasts the division’s second-best defensive record, with 31 goals conceded, two more than Nice.
What role did Messi have in the title victory?
Lionel Messi has been a PSG player for eight months, and we’ve already seen some highs and some lows from the Argentina great.
Towards PSG’s record-breaking title win, their tenth League title overall. The signing of Lionel Messi has not had the desired effect, as the former Barcelona star has been unable to recreate his success in Spain over the last decade.
He has only 4 goals and 13 assists in 22 appearances for a total of 1792 minutes. For a player of his caliber, these are poor numbers. This G/A, on the other hand, had no bearing on PSG’s championship defense, and the club would have won the French Ligue 1 even if these contributions were deleted.
Why was PSG booed during such a crucial match?
Despite their impending title victory, PSG was once again booed by their own supporters.
At halftime, a chorus of boos erupted to express fans’ disgust with what they had witnessed throughout the prior 45 minutes.
Since PSG’s humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid in the last 16, tensions between fans and the team have been visible.
After that elimination, Neymar and Messi were singled out for criticism from the stands, putting further pressure on the South American duo.
PSG has won how many trophies this season?
PSG’s Ligue 1 title will do little to relieve the pressure on Pochettino, who failed to win any additional honors in the 2021-22 season.
Last August, the Argentine team lost the Trophee des Champions final to Lille, and they also exited the French Cup and Champions League early.
Spot of Light
This is a bright point in a turbulent season for PSG, which has seen newcomer Lionel Messi ridiculed by his own fans and the club’s popularity plummet.
Even more than a strong display in a league that PSG has already won four times in the last five years, a Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid will undoubtedly be the most remembered element of the season.
Mbappe’s likely summer departure amid reports of interest from Real Madrid looms large over the situation, but there may be some light at the end of the tunnel, with the Frenchman considering a β¬50 million contract offer.
Nonetheless, it’s been a good final stretch for the French champions, as Messi and Neymar have begun to rediscover their form, and the club has acquired momentum that they aim to carry into next season.
