On the occasion of the last weekend of the 2022-2023 season, the light suddenly dimmed on European football. Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi spent his final moments at PSG under the whistles. The "Nueve", Karim Benzema, surprised his world by announcing his departure from Real Madrid and Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved San Siro by ending his career after 25 professional seasons.
European football is turning a page, and other big names in the discipline could perhaps be added to the list of starters – Luka Modric, N'Golo Kante, Angel Di Maria... – for Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks. France 24 takes stock.
Messi, a departure from PSG under the whistles for "the best player in history"
The case seemed heard for several weeks, it was formalized Saturday, June 3 by PSG for the last match of the season: Lionel Messi leaves Paris after two years in Ligue 1. "Paris Saint-Germain is proud to have been able to count in its ranks the best player in history," said the Parisian club.
At almost 36 years old, the "Pulga", seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and winner of the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, leaves PSG with impressive statistics: he has been decisive 66 times (32 goals, 34 assists) in his 75 matches with Paris, according to Opta. Only Kylian Mbappé did better at the same time.
>> Read also: Barça, Inter Miami, Saudi Arabia... Where will Lionel Messi go after PSG?
But Lionel Messi has not managed to take the Parisian club to the next level in the Champions League, PSG having been eliminated in the knockout stages in the last two seasons. Added to this was an episode where the Argentine striker went to Saudi Arabia in early May for a business trip, without the permission of his club.
Is it for these reasons that the player was whistled on Saturday for his last game? His departure contrasts in any case with the celebrations that accompanied Sunday's announcement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's retirement in Milan. The future of the "Pulga" is now written far from Paris, perhaps in the United States, Saudi Arabia... or FC Barcelona, the club with which he won everything.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic hangs up the cleats, to a standing ovation by the Milan tifosi
End clap for "Ibra". At 41 years old, the Swedish colossus bowed out on Sunday, June 4, after the home victory of AC Milan against Hellas Verona (3-1). From the top of his 1m95 and his 25 seasons in professional, Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended a career full of success in a strong moment of emotions at the San Siro stadium.
The Milanese tifosi paid a vibrant tribute to the man who wore the Rossoneri jersey for six years, cheering him multiple times as "Ibra" let himself be overwhelmed by emotion. "It's time to say goodbye to football, but not to you," the Swedish striker said. "I will be a Milanist for the rest of my life."
San Siro's final tribute to Zlatan Ibrahimović 🌟 #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/9XTYZ0QtNt
— AC Milan (@acmilan) June 5, 2023
Due to repeated injuries, the forty-year-old has hardly been able to play this season. He leaves behind a rich list of achievements, with league titles in four different countries: two in the Netherlands with Ajax Amsterdam (2001-2004), five in Italy (three with Inter between 2006-2009, two with AC Milan between 2010-2012 and between 2020-2023), one in Spain with FC Barcelona (2009-2011) and four in France with PSG (2012-2016). Only the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or are missing from its trophy cabinet.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also small phrases that will remain memorable. "I arrived like a king, I leave like a legend," he said when announcing his departure from PSG in 2016. For his farewell to Los Angeles Galaxy fans in 2019, "Ibra" adopted a more abrupt tone: "You wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. You're welcome. (...) Now go back to your baseball games." The Swedish striker has always played the card of confidence (and sometimes arrogance) in his communication, tweeting especially during the pandemic: "Covid had the courage to challenge me. Bad idea." His particular tone and talent on the pitch will be missed in European football.
The "surprise" of the departure of Karim Benzema, legend of Real Madrid
Unlike Lionel Messi, who was known to leave PSG for several weeks, the announcement of Karim Benzema's departure from Real Madrid surprised football fans this weekend. "KB9" announced, Sunday, June 4, to its management that it would take off at the end of the season, after 14 years of a happier marriage each season with the White House. His coach, Carlo Ancelotti, admitted that the decision was "a surprise for all of us", while assuring that he respected the decision of "one of the best players in the world".
The French striker leaves an indelible mark on the Merengue, his club of heart that he joined from OL in 2009: he won 25 titles, including five Champions Leagues, becoming the most successful player in the history of the club tied with Marcelo. "KB9" is also the second top scorer in the history of the Merengue and the fourth top scorer in the history of La Liga (353 goals).
👑 ☝ KB9 ☝👑 pic.twitter.com/uNJChXSAdK
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 4, 2023
To this brilliant record is added the most prestigious individual title for a football player: Karim Benzema won in 2022 the Ballon d'Or for his stratospheric club season, twenty-four years after the last trophy won by a Frenchman (Zinedine Zidane in 1998).
These performances explain a little more the void that will leave the No. 9 Merengue in the landscape of European football. "He's one of the best players we've ever had," praised Real's director of international relations, former star Emilio Butragueno. Madrid fans also paid due tribute to "KB9" on Sunday after the match against Athletic Bilbao. Finally, the club announced that an official celebration will be organized for his departure on Tuesday, June 6 in Madrid. At 35, Karim Benzema is expected to leave for Saudi Arabia. State broadcaster Al-Ekhbariya says Al-Ittihad has reached an "official" deal for a "record" two-season contract with the French striker.
Other big names in European football announced to leave for Saudi Arabia
The Saudi sporting offensive – already begun with the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr at the end of December – is not limited to Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema. Other big names in European football are also announced to be leaving for Saudi Arabia.
Local authorities are "in contact with more than ten players, many of whom have won the World Cup or the Champions League, so that they join the Saudi league next season," a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Monday (June 5th). "In addition to receiving quite lucrative offers, they would play in a very competitive league. The aim is to conclude most of the agreements before the start of the next season on August 11."
>> READ ALSO: Cristiano Ronaldo, bridgehead of the crazy sporting ambitions of Saudi Arabia
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric is one of the profiles targeted by the Saudi kingdom. At 37 years old, the 2018 Ballon d'Or continues to delight football fans with his delicious assists from outside the foot. But his arrival in the Middle East seems far from certain... He would even like to extend his adventure at Real Madrid, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Other names are mentioned to leave for Riyadh: the French world champions N'Golo Kanté and Hugo Lloris, the Spanish players Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. Added to this star-studded list are Argentina's Angel Di Maria and Brazil's Roberto Firmino.
"The goal is to set up a very strong and competitive league and raise the level of Saudi clubs," said a government official in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is trying to improve its image linked to a rigorous Islam and attract tourists and investment, thanks in part to sport.
The monarchy has spent hundreds of millions on sports contracts for the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, the organization of a Formula 1 Grand Prix or the launch of the dissident LIV golf circuit. All these initiatives have earned her accusations of wanting to "whitewash through sport" her human rights record.
With AFP
The summary of the week France 24 invites you to look back on the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news with you everywhere! Download the France 24 app