The Argentine has often been maligned since he returned from the World Cup. And with good reason. His performances haven't been up to par, while his unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia earned him a suspension. But Messi's quality has never been in doubt, and he was vital against Strasbourg.
PSG have made what should have been a stroll to the Ligue 1 title look difficult at times, with a series of disappointing performances and underwhelming results. And neither the showing nor the scoreline was particularly convincing on Saturday. However, the Parisians leaned on their World Cup winner to wrap up their 11th Ligue 1 crown, with Messi grabbing their only goal in an underwhelming 1-1 draw.
Strasbourg weren't afraid to attack the league leaders at home. Gianluigi Donnarumma was active early, making a handful of saves, while the home side also hit the woodwork. But they were kept mostly quiet once PSG found a foothold in the contest. And the inevitable opener came just shy of the 60th minute. Kylian Mbappe slid a pass through to Messi, who curled his shot into the far corner, a signature finish for his 496th European goal, and perhaps his last in a PSG shirt.
Strasbourg had a late response, though, with Kevin Gameiro taking advantage of a defensive lapse to bundle the ball home from close range.
Still, another shaky draw was enough to finally secure an expected title, a cause for celebration in an otherwise forgettable season.
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