After his suspension for skipping training for a lucrative getaway to Saudi Arabia and his somewhat forced apology, the return of Lionel Messi to the Parc des Princes against AC Ajaccio was necessarily expected.
As Christophe Galtier had announced, the world champion started in an unprecedented attacking trio in support of Kylian Mbappé and Hugo Ekitiké. But Messi received a rather mixed reception from the Parisian public.
During the first announcement of the teams, when the Parc des Princes was still only half full, a few whistles escaped from the stands. In the warm-up, he was seen touching his thigh several times. During the composition of the teams, the whistles were covered by the spectators who took up his name. But after giving the hug to Bruno Rodriguez who gave the fictitious kick-off with his prosthetic leg, his first ball catch set the tone. It was accompanied by loud whistles. On the side of Auteuil, despite the strike and the absence of a part of the Ultras "Messi, enc... " even escaped.
The concert of whistles resumed when he came to shoot his first corner in front of the Auteuil stand. But much of the Parc des Princes also responded with applause. A simple lull. The whistles quickly resumed with each of his catches of balls and when he fired a set kick. A very complicated start to the match for Messi despite a beautiful strike countered. Even Ruiz's opening score didn't warm up the mood.
