Lionel Messi Blamed for Paris Saint-Germaine's Early UEFA Champions League Elimination

Lionel Messi is one of the most decorated soccer players. However, after his team Paris Saint-Germaine was eliminated by German side Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Argentinian took most of the blame.

The French soccer powerhouse was the biggest team in France's Ligue-1 and is on track to win its title. However, despite the star power of its frontline, which includes Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Brazilian superstar Neymar, the club has repeatedly failed to win the UEFA Champions League Title.

GOAL reported that people blaming Messi for the loss to Bayern Munich are saying that the Argentinian often "disappears completely in matches that matter."

While this sort of criticism often does not happen to Messi, who has come up clutch time and time again, many have said that his performance for PSG often comes out as flat, especially in the more crucial moments.

The criticism mostly came from France, saying that Messi does not want to win with PSG and blames the Argentinian for "not wanting to be with the club. "

"Messi, we don't want it! He doesn't want to get involved in this club! He says he's 'acclimatized' now, but what are you acclimatized to?! You scored 18 goals or 16 assists this year against Angers and Clermont? But in the matches that matter, you disappear!" said a scathing opinion piece from the French sports site RMC Sport.

The Failure of Paris Saint-Germaine's Lionel Messi Project

The Athletic pointed out that Messi and PSG's early Champions League exit "felt entirely predictable" as they were demolished by the German team 3-0 on aggregate.

It was pointed out that despite PSG's star power and its dominance back in France, it lacked the cohesiveness of Bayern Munich, which controlled much of the game despite lacking the star power. The German side played like a team en route to advancing in the prestigious European tournament.

However, despite the criticisms of his team's failed performance during the Champions League, Messi's reputation as one of the best players in the world was hardly diminished, despite already being 35 years old.

Another Humiliating Early UEFA Champions League Exit for Paris Saint-Germaine

Paris Saint-Germain has remained dominant in France, but the club has repeatedly failed in its campaign to win the UEFA Champions League as the team has been eliminated in the Round of 16 for the second year in a row. In fact, the club has been eliminated during the Round of 16 five times in the last seven years.

Neymar was out of the match due to injury, while Messi and Mpabbe were controlled by the stifling Bayern Munich defense and were unable to truly show what they could do.

According to CNN, it remains to be seen whether the club's "Big 3" of Messi, Mbappe, and Neymar would be staying together next season with Messi's deal still not finalized to stay in Paris, as well as Neymar's recurring injury problems.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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