After 21 years playing with FC Barcelona, legendary professional soccer player Lionel Messi has moved on to a new team.
Considered by many as the greatest fútbol player to ever play the sport, Messi is now the newest member of the French club, Paris Saint-Germain. He was introduced to fans and the media during a press conference outside the PSG stadium, Parc des Princes.
“I still want to play, and I still want to win,” Messi said at the news conference alongside PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. “I want to keep growing and keep winning titles.”
While in Barcelona, Messi won a record six Ballon d’Or awards and led the club to 14 titles, 10 in the Spanish league and four in the Champions League.
Now considered the favorites to win the Champions League this coming season, PSG jumped at the opportunity to sign Messi when he expressed his desire to leave Barcelona last year, a decision Remezcla called “the most important global sports news in the 21st century.”
Rumors of Messi’s departure began over a decade ago, but Barcelona was always able to draw up a new contract that brought the champion player back to the field for Spain. In 2020, however, Messi sent a letter to the club saying he was unhappy with the team after losing to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
There were some disputes around a clause in Messi’s contract with Barcelona, but in the end, he signed a two-year contract with PSG where he will earn approximately $35 to $41 million, according to ESPN.
“My exit from Barca was very tough, after so many years, but as soon as I arrived here, I was so happy, so motivated, so excited,” Messi said. “It has happened so fast, but I am enjoying it so much.”
Messi said he thinks his new team has what it takes to win the Champions League this year. “The squad and coaches here are capable of winning everything, which is my objective,” he said. “The team here is incredible. There have been some amazing signings. This will be an unbelievable experience for me.”