Lionel Messi has spent two seasons as a cornerstone of Paris Saint-Germain’s first team since joining from Barcelona in 2021. Have the capital club been better with or without him in the side since?
Messi stunned world football when he joined PSG on a free transfer from Barca the summer before last, reuniting with Neymar Jr. and forming an incredible front three with the Brazilian and Kylian Mbappé.
Since arriving, Messi has racked up 31 goals and 34 assists from 72 games in all competitions and is on the cusp of a second consecutive Ligue 1 Uber Eats title having won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in December.
But while those are impressive individual numbers, PSG haven’t necessarily been better with Messi in the team…
2021/22: Season 1, a slow start
A niggling knee injury and bout of COVID-19 didn’t help Messi in his first season, but it did allow for plenty of data for PSG’s performances with and without him in that campaign.
All told, Messi missed 12 games in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, and 15 in all competitions. PSG averaged 2.58 points per game without him in the team, and 2.12 with him. They also scored marginally more goals and conceded marginally less.
“To judge Messi in this way is unfair,” said then-coach Mauricio Pocgetiino. “It was a year of learning, and not just on a professional level coming to Paris Saint-Germain, in a new league and with new teammates, but also on a family level.”
PSG with and without Messi in Ligue 1 Uber Eats in 2021/22
Ligue 1 total
P38, W26, L4, D8, GF90, GA36, GD54, Pts86
Ligue 1 with Messi
P26, W16, L3, D7, GF61, GA26, GD35, Pts55
Average points: 2.12, average scoreline: 2.3-1
Ligue 1 without Messi
P12, W10, L1, D1, GF29, GA10, GD19, Pts31
average scoreline points: 2.58, average scoreline: 2.4-0.8
PSG with and without Messi in all competitions in 2021/22
All competitions total
P49, W32, L7, D11, GF112, GA48, GD64, Pts107
All competitions with Messi
P34, W20, L6, D9, GF74, GA36, GD38, Pts69
Average points: 2.03, average scoreline: 2.2-1.1
All competitions without Messi
P15, W12, L1, D2, GF38, GA12, GD19, Pts38
Average points: 2.53, average scorline: 2.5-0.8
2022/23: Season 2, getting back to his best
Messi admitted himself that his first season wasn’t as successful on an individual level as he had hoped – it was the first season he had failed to reach double figures for goals scored since the 2005/06 campaign with Barcelona:
“I think about being able to reverse the situation, about not having the feeling of having changed clubs and that it didn’t go well for me.” He said. “I’m already prepared for what’s to come, I know the club, I know the city, I’m a little more comfortable with the dressing room, with my teammates and I know it’s going to be different.”
And he has been good to his word this season. In 2022/23, Messi has only missed six games in Ligue 1 Uber Eats and nine in all competitions – and PSG have missed him when he hasn’t been around. They average 2.45 points per game with him and 1.67 without. They also average one more goal per game.
PSG with and without Messi in Ligue 1 Uber Eats in 2022/23
Ligue 1 total
P35, W26, L6, D3, GF84, GA35, GD49, Pts81
Ligue 1 with Messi
P29, W23, L4, D2, GF75, GA26, GD49, Pts71
Average points: 2.45, average scoreline: 2.6-0.9
Ligue 1 without Messi
P6, W3, L2, D1, GF9, GA9, GD0, Pts10
Average points: 1.67, average scoreline: 1.5-1.5
PSG with and without Messi in all competitions in 2021/22
All competitions total
P47, W33, L9, D5, GF115, GA48, GD67, Pts104
All competitions with Messi
P38, W28, L7, D3, GF95, GA37, GD58, Pts87
Average points: 2.29, average scoreline: 2.5-1
All comps without Messi
P9, W5, L2, D2, GF20, GA11, GD9, Pts17
Average points: 1.89, average scoreline: 2.2-1.2
2023 and beyond, what lies in wait?
Messi is out of contract with PSG in, and was recently suspended by the club after an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia following the recent 3-1 loss to FC Lorient. He missed the subsequent 3-1 win at ESTAC Troyes, but returned for the 5-0 win over AC Ajaccio last Saturday.
“First of all, I want to apologise to my teammates and the club,” Messi posted to Instagram before his return. “Honestly, I thought we were going to have a day off after the game like we did in previous weeks.
“I had this trip organised which I had cancelled already; I could not cancel it again. I repeat, I want to say sorry for what I did. I’m waiting to hear what the club want to do with me.”
While club and player appear to have buried the hatchet, Paris might take stock of what Messi’s presence has meant over the piece…
PSG with and without Messi since he signed
All competitions with Messi
P72, W48, L13, D12, GF169, GA73, GD96, Pts156
Average points: 2.17, average scoreline: 2.3-1
All competitions without Messi
P24, W17, L3, D4, GF58, GA23, GD35, Pts55
Average points: 2.29, average scoreline: 2.4-1
As can be seen above, PSG remain marginally better without Messi that with over the last two season, even if there has been a significant uptick in his performances. They average marginally more points and score slightly more.
Messi remains a world class player – perhaps the greatest of all time – and he will continue to make good on the above numbers if he stays beyond this summer. But if he does, PSG have proved they know how to win without him.
