Lionel Messi takes aim at former team PSG again and claims he was the ONLY World Cup-winning Argentina player not to get recognition from his club

Lionel Messi took aim at Paris Saint-Germain again on Thursday, claiming he was the only member of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad not to be recognized by his club.

The 36-year-old and the Albiceleste defeated France in Qatar last winter to win the 2022 World Cup while still at PSG.

However, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s spell in Paris came to a sour end and he left the French champions at the end of his contract in the summer to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami in mid-July.

Messi, who has enjoyed his start in Miami, admitted as much during an interview Migue Granados on OLGA that his time at PSG did not go according to plan.

‘It just happened that way. “It wasn’t as expected, but I always say things happen for a reason,” he said. ‘Although I wasn’t happy there (at PSG), I became world champion there. Everything happens for a reason, if it’s meant to be then…’

The Argentinian won the World Cup during his tumultuous spell at Paris Saint-Germain

The Argentine faced PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe in the World Cup final but insisted his relationship with the Frenchman was in a good place despite suggesting their return to domestic football was somewhat awkward.

However, Messi did make a mockery of PSG by claiming he was the only World Cup winner not to be recognized by his club upon his return from international duty.

“Kylian Mbappe is doing well, like everyone else,” he added. ‘It was understandable that after the World Cup we were in a situation where we (Argentina) were world champions and it was our fault that they (France and Mbappe) were not champions again.

‘I was the only player not recognized by his club compared to the other 25 Argentinian players.’

Messi scored 32 goals in 75 appearances during his time in the French capital, winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles.

However, he was unable to lead PSG past the last 16 of the Champions League and left for MLS side Inter Miami in June.

Messi’s time at the club has not been without controversy, with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner being suspended for two weeks earlier this year after making an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, suggestions of a fractured relationship with fellow strikers Mbappe and Neymar dominated the final months of last season.

The 36-year-old faced then PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé in the World Cup final

Messi has already taken the MLS club to silver in the first Leagues Cup and could help them lift another trophy in the US Open Cup final.

However, he was forced off during Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over Toronto on Wednesday night, with head coach Tata Martino admitting he is now unsure of playing in next week’s US Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo.

But despite the fatigue Martino claimed the star was feeling, Messi insisted he had not thought about retirement when Granados asked him to.

“I haven’t thought about it and I don’t want to think about it,” he said. ‘I just want to keep enjoying it. That was the main reason for leaving Europe.

‘I’m lucky that I can dedicate myself to something I love. Although I have responsibilities and goals, it is something I have enjoyed since I was young. But after that I don’t know anymore. I would like to remain connected to football, as a sporting director or something similar.’