Two years ago, Lionel Messi opened up about the anger from PSG fans after their UEFA Champions League defeat to eventual winners Real Madrid. The Parisians won 1-0 in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie at home but eventually lost on aggregate.
Just over six months after arriving at the Parc des Princes on a free transfer after 17 seasons at Barcelona, Messi missed a penalty in the first leg. But Kylian Mbappe’s strike gave the Parisians a slender advantage to take to Madrid.
Another Mbappe goal – this time at the Santiago Bernabeu – put the Ligue 1 giants on course for a quarter-final berth. However, in an incredible comeback, a Karim Benzema hat-trick inspired Carlo Ancelotti’s side to a 3-1 win on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. Los Blancos would go on to win the competition that year.
Opening up about the disappointment from fans following another failed attempt to win the Champions League, Messi told TYC Sports (as per GOAL) in May 2022:
“It was new for me. It’s a different situation. It had never happened to me in Barcelona but quite the opposite. The situation of the people and the anger for the players we had, for the team we were and because another year (went without a Champions League title), the anger is understandable.
“The Real Madrid thing killed us. To me, to the entire dressing room in general, to all of Paris. Real Madrid, without taking away their merit, much less because they are the champion of the Champions League and are always there, were not the best team in this Champions League and yet they beat them all.”
Two years later, the Parisians are yet to win European club football’s blue riband event, while Los Blancos added a record 15th title to their arsenal last season.
How Lionel Messi has fared against Real Madrid?
Lionel Messi is widely regarded as of the best players and prolific goalscorers in history, with 850 goals for club and country. Twenty-six of those strikes have come against Real Madrid, all of them while he was with Barcelona between 2004 and 2021.
In 47 games against Carlo Ancelotti’s side, Messi has also contributed 14 assists, winning 20 of those outings and losing 16. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored against Los Blancos in three different competitions – La Liga, Champions League and Supercopa Espana.
However, Lionel Messi went scoreless in six Copa del Rey outings against them, although he did contribute three assists. Barca won two of those games and lost thrice.