Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi is in doubt for the club’s upcoming UEFA Champions League tie against Bayern Munich in the round of 16 stage. This blow comes after French superstar Kylian Mbappe was ruled out of the tie following a thigh injury.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 10, 2023 12:44 IST
Messi in doubt for PSG’s clash with Bayern (AP)
By India Today Web Desk: Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi is in doubt for the club’s upcoming UEFA Champions League tie against Bayern Munich in the round of 16 stage. This blow comes after French superstar Kylian Mbappe was ruled out of the tie following a thigh injury.
Messi, who captained Argentina to their third World Cup win in December, has scored 15 goals in 25 games in all competitions for PSG this season. Messi was recently knocked out of the Coupe de France, after losing 2-1 against Marseille on Wednesday. The Argentine forward felt pain in his hamstring after playing 90 minutes against Marseille, and has now been declared injured by the Paris-based club.
This is not the only injury that PSG might carry into the Bayern game as defender Sergio Ramos also suffering from adductor discomfort, but he will undergo further tests to determine the extent of his injury.
Talking about his participation in the 2026 World Cup, Messi said it will all depend on how his career is going at that point in time.
“Because of age it’ll be difficult to make 2026. I love playing football and while I feel like I’m in good shape and enjoying this, I’m going to keep at it. It seems like a long time until the next World Cup, but it depends on how my career is going.” Messi told Diario Ole.
The Parisian club is also being investigated by French prosecutors for alleged undeclared labour.
The complaint was filed by Tunisian national Hicham Bouajila, who claimed to be an advisor to the club’s president Nasser al Khelaifi, according to his lawyer, Bertrand Repolt.
The first leg of the UEFA Champions League tie will be hosted by PSG at the Parc des Princes on February 15, with the second leg to be held in Munich on March 8.
