MESSI RETURNS TO PSG; RECEIVES GUARD OF HONOUR FROM PLAYERS, SUPPORT STAFF

PSG greeted Lionel Messi’s return from his World Cup-winning heroics in Qatar with a boisterous guard of honour on Wednesday.

A cheerful After walking by his teammates and support personnel, who applauded the World Cup Golden Ball winner, Messi received a gift from the club.

“I’m glad to be back. I am appreciative for the wonderful reception I received from everyone at the club, including my partners and the staff. “I’m happy, and I’m going to prepare for what’s coming up,” Messi said in a video released on social media by PSG.

PSG hasn’t had the best start to its league season. After a scrappy win over Strasbourg thanks to an injury time winner by Kylian Mbappe, the defending champion was defeated 3-1 by second-placed Lens.

The Parisians play Chateauroux in the French Cup on January 7, but Messi is unlikely to play given that he has only recently returned to training.

PSG’s next Ligue 1 match is against Angers on January 12.