Paris Saint-Germain have completed the sensational free-agent signing of Lionel Messi after his sudden Barcelona exit on a deal through 2023, the Ligue 1 giants confirmed Tuesday.
The 34-year-old arrives at Parc des Princes on a two-year contract with an option for one more after a glittering career with Barca which has seen him win four UEFA Champions League, 10 La Liga, seven Copa del Rey and three FIFA Club World Cup titles as part of a total haul of 34 trophies.
"I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain," Messi said in a release. "Everything about the club matches my football ambitions. I know how talented the squad and the coaching staff are here. I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes."
Messi arrived in Paris on Tuesday, and PSG announced his signing with a video.
A new 💎 in Paris !
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 10, 2021
PSGxMESSI ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/2JpYSRtpCy
Messi also led Argentina to this summer's Copa America and has won the Ballon d'Or six times in total -- the same number as his European Golden Shoe titles with countless other individual accolades.
Messi will reunite with Neymar in Paris after the Brazilian superstar left Barca for PSG back in 2017. Fellow Argentina internationals Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Mauro Icardi are also part of Mauricio Pochettino's squad along with great former rival Sergio Ramos after his Real Madrid exit.
"I am delighted that Lionel Messi has chosen to join Paris Saint-Germain and we are proud to welcome him and his family to Paris," PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. "He has made no secret of his desire to continue competing at the very highest level and winning trophies, and naturally our ambition as a club is to do the same. The addition of Leo to our world class squad continues a very strategic and successful transfer window for the club. Led by our outstanding coach and his staff, I look forward to the team making history together for our fans all around the world."
Messi, who will wear the No. 30 in the French capital, will now team up with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Marco Verratti and Achraf Hakimi to launch an assault on the Champions League title after PSG fell short in the semifinals in 2021 and the final in 2020.
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