via Getty
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 11: Lionel Messi arrives on the pitch after holding a press conference announcing his signing with French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain in Paris on August 11, 2021. Messi, the six time Ballon d’Or trophy winner with FC Barcelona, signed a 2-year contract with an option for a third year with the French club. (Photo by Gisele Tellier/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
via Getty
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 11: Lionel Messi arrives on the pitch after holding a press conference announcing his signing with French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain in Paris on August 11, 2021. Messi, the six time Ballon d’Or trophy winner with FC Barcelona, signed a 2-year contract with an option for a third year with the French club. (Photo by Gisele Tellier/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players of all time and has already proved himself in every way possible. However, his form this season hasn’t been the best as Messi has struggled at Paris Saint Germain after leaving FC Barcelona last season.
The Argentinian forward had only ever played professional football for Barca, and hence his current struggle makes sense. Courtesy of the same, he has received a lot of criticism from fans and pundits alike with several people questioning if PSG made the right choice to sign him last year.
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Messi’s financial impact
While that question remains a pressing one on the pitch, there is no doubt that Messi’s arrival has certainly helped PSG. The financial impact of signing a superstar of his stature is huge, and all the money that PSG paid him for his services has been returned in full because of sponsorships and fan interest.
According to a report by Marca, Messi’s arrival has improved the club’s revenue by €300 million in the 2021-2022 season. PSG’s total revenue is expected to reach €700 million by the end of the season, a record for the French club.
Messi’s arrival has directly impacted the club’s sponsorships this season as the club will make €300-€310 million from sponsors this season, a record for PSG.
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Lionel Messi and his form on the pitch
Even though they might have been successful off the pitch, Paris Saint Germain have had a torrid season in 2021-22. The club did win the Ligue 1 title, but it was the only trophy that they managed to win.
Their loss against Real Madrid in the Round-of-16 of the UCL hurt the club and its fans a lot as they were in a winning position before Madrid’s comeback. The club’s fans booed Messi and Neymar Jr when the duo played a match at the Parc des Princes after the fiasco.
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Messi did perform well in the group stages of the UCL, but other than that, the Argentinian forward has failed to hit his stride. It’ll be interesting to see if things will change for him next season or not.
Read More: WATCH: Alisson Becker’s Last Minute Header That Ultimately Took Liverpool to the UCL Final
