Messi Receives Guard of Honour On PSG Return [Watch]

Lionel Messi received a guard of honour at Paris St Germain’s training facility Camp des Loges after returning from celebrations in his hometown Rosario after Argentina won the World Cup.

The 35-year-old made his return to the Camp des Loges training centre on Wednesday morning after achieving his lifelong goal of becoming world champion with Argentina in Qatar.

Messi received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, scoring seven goals and providing three assists, including a brace in the final as Argentina defeated reigning champions France on penalties.

READ ALSO: Sergio Aguero Speaks On How He Made Lionel Messi Angry With World Cup Celebration

Following La Albiceleste’s global triumph, Messi was granted a lengthy break until the New Year, and he is understood to have flown back to Paris over the weekend.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has now linked up with his Parisiens teammates once more, and both players and staff lined up to give Messi a guard of honour as he stepped out onto the training pitches.

After being congratulated by his teammates inside the building, Messi walked through the round of applause with a beaming smile before being presented with a trophy by football advisor Luis Campos.

The Argentina attacker now being put through his paces ahead of PSG’s Coupe de France tie with Chateauroux on Friday night, although he will not be expected to start against the third-tier side.

READ ALSO: Chelsea Set To Out-Bid Arsenal For Mykhaylo Mudryk Transfer

Messi has been in scintilating form this season netting 7 goals in the league and 4 in the Champions League.

PSG currently sit top of the table with 44 points from from 17 games. The Paris based club take on bottom-of-the-table Angers SCO in the league next week before playing LB Châteaurouxin the French.

In Messi’s absence, Christophe Galtier’s side – who were also without the suspended Neymar – suffered their first defeat of the Ligue 1 season in a 3-1 beating at second-placed Lens on Sunday.

Przemyslaw Frankowski and Hugo Ekitike struck for both sides within the first 10 minutes, but further goals from Lois Openda and Alexis Claude-Maurice condemned the champions to defeat.

PSG still hold a four-point lead over Lens at the top of the Ligue 1 table and resume the defence of their title against 20th-placed Angers at the Parc des Princes next Wednesday

Watch Messi’s welcome back video below: