I missed wearing No. 10 at PSG — Messi

I missed wearing No. 10 at PSG — Messi

Faruq Ibrahim 12:09 - 10.11.2023

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi reveals that he missed wearing the number 10 on his back while at Paris Saint-Germain.

Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has revealed he missed donning the number 10 jersey during his stint at Paris Saint-Germain. 

The 36-year-old is back wearing his famed number 10 jersey following his move to Inter Miami, a kit number he has not used at the club level for the past two seasons.

What Messi said 

Following Ronaldinho's exit from Barcelona, Messi inherited the #10 shirt and wore it until the time of his exit in 2021. 

He also wears this number for the Albiceleste, following the path of the late great Diego Armando Maradona. 

Messi's love for this number is no secret, as the number 10 is of significance to Argentines given the Napoli legend's exploits donning kits with that numerical value printed on the back. 

Lionel Messi wearing the number 30 jersey for PSG || Image credit: IMAGO
Lionel Messi wearing the number 30 jersey for PSG || Image credit: IMAGO
A signed Lionel Messi number 10 jersey || Image credit: Imago
A signed Lionel Messi number 10 jersey || Image credit: Imago

However, after he left Barcelona, he could not continue wearing this number that was synonymous with his brand, as the club of his destination at the time, PSG, already had a superstar occupying the squad number, Neymar.  

Neymar is a friend of Messi and contributed to the Argentine's decision to make a move to the French capital. It was reported that he offered Messi the jersey number; however, the father of three was said to have turned it down, opting for the #30 jersey with which he made his Barcelona debut. 

In a recent conversation with another great positional number 10, Zinedine Zidane, Messi revealed that although it was not a big deal, he did miss having that figure on his back for those two seasons in Paris.

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