Lionel Messi’s World Cup intoxication is coming to an end: after 24 days of partying, time for playing minutes at Paris Saint-Germain

December 18: congratulations from Pelé

The World Cup final is not yet over or Lionel Messi is already receiving congratulations from Pelé, who has since passed away, via social media. The three-time world champion with Brazil wrote “Messi has won his first world title, as his career deserves.”

December 20: National Day in Argentina

The Argentine government declares December 20 a national holiday so that the entire country can prepare for the homecoming of the Argentine football heroes. The plane of the Argentina national team lands in Buenos Aires around 3 am and thousands of fans are already waiting for Messi and co. The national team takes a rest in Ezeiza, in the training center of the football association near the airport. At noon, a procession follows in an open bus towards the Obelisk, a monument that is the nerve center of the capital Buenos Aires.

The streets of the major cities of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Cordoba and actually all corners of Argentina are flooded with crowds, so that the bus barely covers ten kilometers in three hours and then gets stuck. The anyway continues by helicopter. On the same day, Messi also receives an invitation from Brazil to leave his footprint in the Maracana Stadium, alongside those of legends such as Pelé, Rivelino, Ronaldo and Franz Beckenbauer and will travel to his hometown of Rosario in the evening with Angel Di Mario. Hundreds of fans are waiting for him there too.

December 21: Compliments from Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola was Messi’s coach at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012 and congratulated Messi at the Manchester City press conference. “For me, Messi is the best player of all time,” he gives de Vlo the highest possible compliment.

That same day it also leaked that Messi and PSG have an agreement in principle about an extended stay in Paris. Messi’s contract expires in June 2023, but he would stay for at least another season. There was always an option for an extra season in his contract, but it could only be lifted if both parties agreed.

December 25: Christmas with family and friends

Messi spends Christmas in his hometown of Rosario in one of his houses with his family. In an intimate circle he tries to accommodate the bustle of the past few days. The area around his house is equipped with drone jammers, which deliberately disrupt the signal of arriving drones to ward off curious fans. There is also a guest book for neighbors from the area who want to congratulate him. In the days before and after Christmas, he also celebrates with befriended ex-teammates such as Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguëro and Andres Iniesta. Javier Mascherano, Kily Gonzalez, Gabriel Heinze and Maxi Rodriguez will also come along. Meanwhile, the number of Messi tattoos in Argentina is skyrocketing, as is jersey sales at his club Paris Saint-Germain. The sale of the jerseys of Messi and Mbappé via the club website suddenly shoots up by 200%.

December 28: Follow PSG on television

Lionel Messi’s Instagram story shows how he follows PSG’s match against Strasbourg on television from Argentina. Despite all the festivities, the Vlo has not forgotten his club.

January 1: resignation

“A year that I will never forget is coming to an end. The dream I have always pursued has finally come true. But it wouldn’t be worth anything if I couldn’t share it with a great family, the best you can have, and some friends who always supported me and didn’t let me down every time I fell,” Messi wrote on social media. . At wife Antonella you can see party photos from during the turn of the year.

January 2: back to Paris

The batteries of the Argentinian world champion are charged and his holiday is over. He will fly back to Paris, where he will resume his club duties.

January 3: medical check-up

Messi is spotted at the club, but sees few teammates in the Camp des Loges. All uninjured players are enjoying a day off while Messi undergoes a medical check-up.

January 4: guard of honor at PSG

Messi greets his teammates in the dressing room and when he takes the field for his first training session as world champion, they form a guard of honor along with all PSG staff. The brand new world champion also receives a trophy from the hands of sporting director Luis Campos.

January 9: group training again

His individual program since his return to PSG has been completed and so Messi is completing his first full group training. The physical after-effects of the World Cup seem to be a thing of the past, but Messi still feels the consequences in other areas. For example, he posts a photo of Lays chips with his head on social media.

January 11: first minutes of play?

Trainer Christophe Galtier hopes that Messi can make minutes in the league match against Angers on Wednesday evening. The Flea may even start in the base. The Parisian public will undoubtedly give him a warm reception.