Lionel Messi returns to form after appearing in PSG defeated Gamba Osaka 6-2 to finish their preseason trip of Japan.
The 16th-place club in the J1 League simply wasn't able to handle the famous visitors.
By halftime, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Nuno Mendes, and Pablo Sarabia had given Christophe Galtier's team a 4-1 lead.
Neymar scored twice, making the worst dive of his career to earn a penalty, and Kylian Mbappe struck from twelve yards late on.
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📹 Watch the highlights of our victory 🆚 Gamba Osaka. (6-2) 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/3zR1YGeQfj
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) July 25, 2022
Nuno Mendes, Pablo Sarabia and Messi all scored goals, while Messi added an assist by setting up Neymar's 2nd goal with a superbly weighted through-ball.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was in a great mood, despite if it was just a friendly against far weaker competition.
With the ball at his feet, he was simply excellent and his movement so smooth that opposing players could only halt him by fouling.
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Lionel Messi played well with Neymar for his goal, which was similar of the style of goal he scored at Barcelona, and the assist was a classic defense-splitting pass.
The 35-year-old scored 11 goals and assisted 15 times for PSG last season, but due to lingering injuries and COVID-19 difficulties, the overwhelming impression is that Messi's debut season was unimpressive.
Paris Saint-Germain CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi hopes supporters will see "the best version of Lionel Messi" next season after giving them time to bed in.
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That there's no doubt that the Argentine Star Messi has achieved the Ballon d'Or a record 7 times, and this was not his greatest season, he said Le Parisien.
However, after twenty years in Barcelona, he invented a new nation, a new place, a new league, and a new squad. A new culture. In addition to his family, he was harmed by the COVID-19.
[Last season was difficult for Lionel Messi, but maybe next season will witness the better version of Lionel Messi ever].
Featured Image Credit: Image: Twitter