Lionel Messi has to swallow heavy criticism (and bad points) …

Jonathan David (ex-Ghent) silenced the Parc des Princes with the 0-1 after half an hour of play. In minute 74, the patience of the Parisians was rewarded with the equalizer of Marquinhos. Fifteen minutes before time, promise international Amadou Onana was allowed to make his appearance at Lille. He had to watch as Angel Di Maria gave the home team the full loot in the 88th minute.

Lionel Messi had to leave halfway through for compatriot Mauro Icardi. The 34-year-old Argentinian, who is still waiting for his first goal in Ligue 1, had trained separately from the group a day before the game due to minor muscle complaints. Trainer Mauricio Pochettino stated after the game that the substitution was “as a precaution”.

But at L’Equipe they didn’t believe that too much. The French sports newspaper gave Messi a big thumbs up, more precisely a 3 out of 10, for his 45 minutes against Lille.

“Was Messi fully recovered from his muscle injury? No. But he was just bad, like with a pass to Neymar in the 18th minute, despite the freedom he was given as a false nine. Messi was never influential or almost never. Once he missed a chance. In 325 minutes in Ligue 1, he has never made a decision with a goal or an assist. That he was replaced by Mauro Icardi, that must hurt.”

Messi also received a lot of criticism at FootMercato (and a 2.5/10). “He was unsure before this meeting, but the former number 10 of Barcelona was unrecognizable in his role as the false nine. Almost everything he tried failed: dribbles, passes… His counter remains at 0 goals.”

SoFoot kept it at a 4.5/10, PSG supporters site ParisFans at a 3/10. “The first half of the Golden Ball… We can forgive his lack of defensive aid if he makes interesting contributions offensively, but Messi played a first half like a non-existent footballer.”