Lionel Messi didn’t care about the boos in his final game for Paris Saint-Germain as the French league champions lost to Clermont 3-2.
Disrespectful PSG supporters booed Messi when the Parc des Princes announcer read his name on a warm evening.
A few minutes later, Messi walked onto the field with a smile on his face, holding his three children’s hands before the team photo and kissing them on their foreheads before kick-off.
“I would like to thank the club, the city of Paris and its people for these two years. I wish you all the best for the future,” Messi said.
Messi tried hard to get on the scoresheet on the final day of the French league. He had a shot parried by Clermont goalkeeper Mory Diaw in the 14th minute, hit a snapshot wide in the 31st and curled a free-kick over the bar in the 42nd.
A selfless Kylian Mbappe made a solo run in the 54th to tee up Messi, who blazed over the bar. Messi nearly found the net in the 59th but Diaw turned his low drive around the post. Diaw denied Messi again in stoppage time.
After the final whistle, Messi hugged teammates and shook hands with the Clermont players.
PSG took a 2-0 lead with a header from the departing Sergio Ramos in the 16th and a penalty from Mbappe in the 21st. But Clermont leveled before half time with goals by Johan Gatien and Mehdi Zeffane. Grejohn Kyei scored the winner by converting a cross in the 63rd.
Mbappe said he has his eyes set on the Ligue 1 record for finishing top scorer in six consecutive seasons next year after he equalled the record for five straight Golden Boot awards set by Jean-PierrePapin.
