Messi debuts for PSG, As Mbappe scores twice

Lionel Messi made his debut for Paris Saint-Germain against Reims when he came on as a substitute on Sunday.

Messi came from the bench to replace Neymar in the 66th minute donning number 30 jersey.

Fans immediately started chanting his name as he emerged to warm up for the replacement.

The Stade Auguste-Delaune venue of the match was filled to capacity as it recorded a total sell-out with 21,000 crowd.

The appearance was the first since arriving in Paris from Barcelona almost three weeks ago.

His last appearance in any match was at the Copa America final on July 11, when he led his country to victory against Brazil.

Messi, however, could not find the back of the net as the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will have to wait for his first goal with his new club.

He is expected to start his first full match September 11 when PSG host Clermont in their next match.

After that, they will begin their Champions League campaign away to Club Brugge in Belgium.

Meanwhile, it was Kylian Mbappe who stole the show in Messi’s debut match by scoring both goals in a 2-0 win against Reims in Ligue 1.

He headed in a glorious Angel Di Maria cross in the 15th minute to put the away side in front.

Mbappe then scored his second of the night, and third of the season, just after the hour mark, finishing off an inviting low cross to the back post by Achraf Hakimi.

The week leading up to this game had been dominated by talk of Mbappe’s future.

Real Madrid reportedly made two offers for the France World Cup-winning striker which PSG rejected.

The latest of these offers was understood to be worth 180 million euros ($212m).

Mbappe’s contract expires at the end of the season and he will be free to negotiate a deal with a new club in January without PSG being able to get a transfer fee.

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