Lionel Messi is set to play his last game for PSG after manager Christophe Galtier confirmed that the forward will be leaving the club.
The Parisian side face Clermont Foot in their final game of the season, having already secured the Ligue 1 title with a draw against Strasbourg last weekend. Messi scored in the 1-1 draw to confirm their status as champions.
The World Cup winner has been linked with a move back to Barcelona following a disappointing two years in the French capital. Many hoped he would bring European glory to the club along with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, but it was not meant to be.
The Sporting News looks at the details ahead of PSG’s fixture against Clermont Foot, as the club confirmed his departure before the final match of the season.
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After two seasons with PSG, the adventure between Leo Messi and Paris Saint-Germain will come to an end at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Club wishes Leo, with undeniable emotion, many more accomplishments for the rest of his career. #MerciMessi 🔴🔵…
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) June 3, 2023
Paris Saint-Germain would like to warmly thank the seven-time Ballon d’Or, winner of a TrophĂ©e des Champions and two French championship titles wearing the Red & Blue colors.#MerciMessi 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/VrHxb5lCHM
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) June 3, 2023
When is Lionel Messi’s last match for PSG?
This Ligue 1 match from Parc de Princes kicks off on Saturday, June 3 at 21:00 local time.
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Sat, June 3 | 3 p.m. EDT |
| Canada | Sat, June 3 | 3 p.m. EDT |
| UK | Sat, June 3 | 8 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Sun, June 4 | 5 a.m. AEST |
| India | Sun, June 4 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
| Hong Kong | Sun, June 4 | 3 a.m. HKT |
| Malaysia | Sun, June 4 | 3 a.m. MYT |
| Singapore | Sun, June 4 | 3 a.m. SGT |
| New Zealand | Sun, June 4 | 7 a.m. NZST |
🚨 PSG manager Christophe Galtier has just confirmed that Leo Messi will leave PSG at the end of the season.
“I had a privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. It will be Leo’s last match at the Parc des Princes against Clermont”. pic.twitter.com/hieCFUFBQm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 1, 2023
PSG vs Clermont Foot TV channel, live stream
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | beIN Sports 3 | — |
| Canada | — | Fubo, beIN Sports Connect, Fanatiz |
| Hong Kong | beIN Sports 1 | M Plus live, beIN Sports Connect |
| India | Sports18 | — |
| Malaysia | — | beIN Sports Connect, sooka |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports | beIN Sports Connect |
| Singapore | — | beIN Sports Connect, StarHub TV+ |
| UK | BT Sport 6 | BT Sport App |
| USA | beIN Sports | Fubo, beIN Sports Connect, beIN Sports en Espanol |
UK: The match will broadcast on BT Sport 6 and can be streamed on BT Sport platforms.
USA: This fixture can be will be shown on beIN Sports, which is streamed on Fubo available to new users on a free trial. A stream will also be available on beIN Sports Connect (English) and beIN Sports en Espanyol (Spanish).
Canada: Viewers from Canada can stream this game on Fubo, and beIN Sports Connect.
Australia: The match will be televised on beIN Sports 3.
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Did PSG want to keep Messi?
Messi started the season on brilliant form for PSG as the French champions were off to a flying start in the league and Champions League. Coupled with a great World Cup with Argentina, it was said that Messi had verbally agreed to stay at the club beyond his current contract.
The attacker however slowly drifted away from the team after a disappointing second half of the season, which saw them eliminated in the last 16 of the Champions League against Bayern.
Despite the performances of the team, and Messi’s suspension due to an unscheduled trip to Saudi Arabia, PSG still wanted to try and secure the services of the winger for at least another season.
However, his love for Barcelona, along with his desire to leave Paris, means that he has decided to leave the club this summer.
He also reportedly has offers from MLS side Inter Miami and Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
His former teammate and now Barca boss Xavi says Messi will make a decision on his future next week.
“He told me that next week he will make a decision and we have to leave him alone. In the end, if we talk about Leo every day, every day, think he doesn’t add up either,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
“In the end he will decide next week and now there are 200 hypotheses. In the end, he will decide his future and here the doors are open, there is no more debate.
“I have already said many times, he has the doors open here, I am the coach and I know that he will help us if he decides to come, but in the end I think we have to leave him a little alone.”
