However, it was Kylian Mbappé who stole the show on Messi’s special night, scoring both goals to continue PSG’s perfect start to the season.
The future of the French star has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks, according to which Real Madrid presented two different offers of more than 180 million dollars to try to reward the 22-year-old outside Paris.
Both offers have reportedly been rejected by PSG, although club sporting director Leonardo admitted last week that Mbappé wants to leave.
“Our president and Leonardo are very clear: he is here with us,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino said after Sunday’s game. “I’m very happy to have it. It’s a gift.”
Having played since the Copa America final in July, Messi missed the first two games since joining PSG, as he gradually regained his fitness.
It took Pochettino 66 minutes to present him against Reims, sending the contingent of PSG traveling fans when Messi finally entered the pitch with a different shirt to Barcelona for the first time in his career.
There were brief flashes of the brilliance with which fans have become accustomed to seeing Messi over the years, but it can take a while to catch up and sing from the same anthem sheet as his teammates.
“Right now it’s hard because our players are at different levels physically,” Pochettino said in post-match reports. “He [Messi] he was very good from the moment he entered the field of play.
“Every time he touched the ball, he spread calm throughout the team. It’s important even for Lionel Messi to win in his debut.
“It can radiate optimism and energy that everyone can feel and that can positively influence the rest of the players.”