PSG

Lionel Messi celebrated his return to Paris Saint-Germain with a goal in his first game back since lifting the World Cup.

[lost in the league ](http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/02/football/psg-lens-ligue-1-football-spt-intl/index.html)for the first time this season last week, 3-1 away to Lens. [Pelé](http://www.cnn.com/2022/12/29/football/brazil-pele-soccer-died-intl-latam-spt/index.html) before the match, joining his teammates in wearing a t-shirt with the Brazilian’s face on it during the warmup. [Lionel Messi](http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/football/lionel-messi-psg-return-world-cup-ronaldo-spt-intl/index.html) celebrated his return to Paris Saint-Germain with a goal in his first game back since lifting the [World Cup](https://cnn.com/2022/12/18/football/argentina-france-world-cup-final-qatar-2022-spt-intl/index.html). The 20-year-old forward has impressed when given the chance this season and opened the scoring with a sweeping finish in the first half. [greatest finals ever](https://cnn.com/2022/12/19/football/argentina-france-best-world-cup-final-spt-intl/index.html). But the forward didn’t look to be suffering any hangover as he returned to action with a goal from close range in PSG’s 2-0 win against Angers on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi scored in his first game since leading Argentina to the World Cup title as French league leader Paris Saint-Germain beat Angers 2-0 on ...

Thuram doubled Nice's lead in the 34th with a powerful shot. Striker Andy Delort added another for Nice before midfielder Téji Savanier pulled one back for the visitors with a fine free kick. 18 and converted his penalty in the shootout. But PSG was asleep for stretches of the game and Angers had two good chances before Messi's goal. He turned neatly near the penalty area and threaded a pass to right back Nordi Mukiele, whose cross was turned in by 20-year-old forward Hugo Ekitiké. He scored twice against France in a wild 3-3 draw on Dec.

Lionel Messi was crucial in the build-up for the first goal and scored the second as PSG beat Angers to go six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

VAR, though, overturned the ruling, and Messi was awarded a goal on his return to club football after his heroics at Qatar 2022. Abdallah Sima had the best, blasting over from five yards out. PSG wasted little time taking the lead, carving through Angers with relative ease just five minutes in.

PARIS — Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday (Jan 11) on his first appearance since leading Argentina to ...

"Messi has recovered well. Advertisement

PARIS – Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 home win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday on his first appearance since leading Argentina to ...

The goal was initially disallowed for offside but a VAR (video assistant referee) check allowed it to stand. Ekitike and Mukiele were again involved before Messi applied the finish. He seems calm, light, very fit on a physical level.

Lionel Messi scored on his return to club soccer after his FIFA 2022 World Cup win with Argentina as Paris Saint-Germain ran out 2-0 winners over Angers SCO ...

It was important for him to get back to action immediately and important for the team to get Leo back." A VAR check for offside ultimately proved unfounded and Messi was afforded his biggest cheer of the evening given that there was no fanfare for the returning champion in the capital of the beaten World Cup finalists' homeland. "He is in very good physical shape and he got an important goal for us. I think the whole team and the fans are all happy for him." Kylian Mbappe was missing as he returns to training after some deserved rest while Achraf Hakimi was suspended and Marco Verratti was nursing an injury. "He scored and we are all very happy for him.

PARIS - Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday on his first appearance since leading Argentina to victory ...

"Messi has recovered well. The win, which came three and a half weeks after he captained Argentina to their World Cup final triumph on penalties against France in Qatar, saw PSG move six points clear at the top of the French table. Messi had been rested for PSG's first three matches following the long break in the season caused by the World Cup but he returned to training in Paris a week ago and was back in the starting line-up for this game against Ligue 1's bottom side.