PSG star to make decision over future after World Cup

Paris Saint-Germain travel to Israel on Wednesday to face Maccabi Haifi, looking to continue their pursuit of the club’s first ever Champions League title. 

The French champions have never won Europe’s top club competition, but their 2-1 victory over Juventus in the opening round of fixtures was perceived by many as a statement of intent.

The Ligue 1 side will also be buoyed by the form of their front three – Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar – during the opening weeks of the season.

So far, the trio have scored 23 goals between them, as well as registering a combined 14 assists in the first nine games of the season.

French international Mbappe signed a new contract at the club over the summer, keeping him in the French capital until at least 2025, but Neymar was linked with a move away from the club during the recent transfer window, although a move never materialised.

Messi, meanwhile, is currently set to be out of contract next summer, although his current employers plan to offer him a new contract soon, Fabrizio Romano reports.

Messi set up Neymar to score the only goal of the game in PSG’s 1-0 over Brest on Saturday

The journalist claims that PSG are intent on offering the Argentine the opportunity to stay put in France, while former club Barcelona are also interested in the idea of Messi completing a sensational return to the Nou Camp.

Romano suggests that the player will not make any decision over his future until after this winter’s World Cup, though, as he is currently prioritising the domestic season with PSG and then the showpiece with his native Argentina.

This means that no decision will be made until 2023, when Messi will have just six months remaining on his current deal.

Messi, 35, departed Barcelona last summer having spent more than two decades with the club, and PSG were quick to snap up the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

During his time in Catalunya, Argentina international Messi scored 672 goals and provided 303 assists in 778 matches across all competitions.

Since joining the French side, Messi has scored 15 goals and provided 22 assists in 43 games, and after a slow start last season, his improved form at the start of this campaign appears to have prompted PSG to prepare a new contract offer.