Reims (AFP)

Even if he did not shine during the half hour spent on the pitch, Lionel Messi was the king of the evening in Reims, where he was dubbed by the supporters for his great debut with Paris SG (2- 0).

For several days, the excitement reigned in the City of Coronations at the idea of ​​being the scene of the first steps of "la Pulga" (the chip in Spanish) in Ligue 1. And the reception reserved for the Argentinian superstar has lived up to the enormous enthusiasm it aroused.

Before the meeting, however, "Leo" Messi and the other Parisian substitutes did not warm up on the lawn as tradition dictates, but in the locker room, perhaps to remain hermetic to the ambient madness in the stands.

- Acclaimed by the public -

At the announcement of the teams, his name, spoken last, was acclaimed by almost the entire Auguste-Delaune stadium, packed (20,525 spectators) for the occasion.

And when he went to the sidelines, where he settled next to his compatriot Leandro Paredes, the supporters present just behind flashed the flashes to photograph or film him.

At halftime, when he was heading to the locker room tunnel and receiving a standing ovation from the fans, he gave them a thumbs-up and a big smile, to their delight.

Lionel Messi warming up before the PSG match in Reims, August 29, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP

During half-time, he did not warm up on the lawn unlike the other outfielders, giving rise to fears that he might not play.

But in the 58th minute, a clamor sounded when "la Pulga" left to warm up on the edge of the field.

And it was clearly amplified five minutes later when he came running back to the bench, a sign that he was going to come into play.

Wink of fate, it is when the Argentinian was removing his chasuble, and the whole stadium had eyes only for him, that Kylian Mbappé, at the heart of a saga between PSG and Real Madrid, offered a double (63rd).

- Collector's photo -

Messi finally came into play in the 66th minute in place of his great friend Neymar, with whom he formed a prolific duo during four seasons at FC Barcelona (2013-2017).

The stands then went up in flames and chanted "Leo Messi" at the top of their lungs for his first moments as a PSG player.

As soon as the pocket striker touched the leather, whispers descended from the stands.

He first played in one touch, without carrying the ball too much.

It was thus not until the 78th minute to witness his first ball rush under the Parisian jersey: after intercepting the ball, he sank in full axis before serving on his right Mbappé, who infiltrated the surface and sent a center back in the direction of his Argentine teammate, without success.

PSG stars Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi at the end of the match in Reims, August 29, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP

The two stars, who may have played their first and last match together if the French international were to leave Paris, looked for each other a lot on the pitch and often tried to combine, like a new center in withdrawal of the French for the former Barcelona in added time (90th + 2).

After the final whistle, the two players gave each other a warm hug before going, with their teammates, to thank the hundreds of supporters who had made the short trip and who made themselves heard in the enclosure. rémoise.

Several Champagne players tried to exchange their shirts with Messi, but he politely refused.

However, he agreed to pose for a collector's photo with the daughter of goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic in his arms.

It's a gift.

© 2021 AFP