The talk this week centers on Lionel Messi’s most recent jab at Paris Saint-Germain. In a recent interview, Messi said he was the only member of the Argentina team that did not receive praise for winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The PSG team internally praised Messi, according to Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of the club. The club president feels that celebrating the achievement so soon after France’s loss would be inappropriate.

The Argentine Javier Pastore, a former PSG midfielder, now understands why the capital club loudly celebrated the achievement at the Parc des Princes.

Pastore told RMC Sport, “I didn’t talk about it with him, but that’s normal; it was difficult to celebrate a world champion in a country that lost the final.” It meant a lot to the club to refrain from doing anything crucial in order to downplay a negative situation for France and for players from Paris who represented France.

“Then, each player might consider his options. Since I wasn’t present, I can’t say that I’m aware of everything that occurred at PSG over the past two years. Messi’s teammate wasn’t me. I’m not sure. It’s a matter between the player and the club.

Messi’s claim that he wasn’t honored is untrue; the 36-year-old was aware that any sort of celebration would have been difficult for the team and the spectators.

Why the Argentine wanted PSG to honor him at the Parc des Princes baffled ESPN FC’s Frank Leboeuf. Given that French fans would make up the majority of the crowd, Messi wouldn’t have responded well.