Messi's on fire: PSG's Argentina ace starts 2022/23 in fine form

David Adán MESSI'S PSG's Argentina ace has started the season in fine form for club and country ON FIRE

[{"selector":"#anim-9a664c5e-e852-45d5-b5d5-32c0f8b7ea7e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dab12f51-e0f5-4ad5-b965-02ecc2065024 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.7751937984496124)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"fill":"forwards"}] Last season wasn’t Messi’s best. His performances in his first year at PSG were widely questioned, leading to suggestions he was over the hill.

[{"selector":"#anim-2b1b2071-6920-423e-ad6c-fc6b4c4e366b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.04246%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7b3ab36-8284-4387-b1d4-4c67ae0e48bd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.7194244604316546)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"fill":"forwards"}] But at the start of the new campaign, Messi has been a match winner once more. He’s already won one trophy: France’s Trophée des Champions.

[{"selector":"#anim-0cf6459c-1340-41f9-b01c-94b5789448c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.30265%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d00d7593-adb4-41db-aa97-4e0ef5412daf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(8.4924671697557%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] In 22/23, Messi has 10 goals and eight assists for club and country. He's the assist leader in Europe’s major leagues, having supplied seven in Ligue 1.

[{"selector":"#anim-943fc4cf-6b51-488c-9219-89d09c53464e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d231f43c-74a0-4527-8fc6-3f7bd3d8f143 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.86363614436231%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] No player has set up more goals this calendar year. Messi has a total of 20 assists, ahead of Kevin de Bruyne (18) and Ousmane Dembélé (16).

[{"selector":"#anim-58293795-d792-4365-ba10-b9e91434b37a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 235.02421%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7cec7aa5-6e48-408b-a3c0-9b517a8664e1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.056817878764893186%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] With Argentina, Messi is spearheading the Albiceleste’s pursuit of the only trophy he’s missing: the World Cup.

[{"selector":"#anim-8498fd0e-d50e-4d75-9cdb-41e794f688a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.30265%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3100bd2d-5f29-4e2a-9221-64320be15506 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.847457627118644)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"forwards"}] The Argentines have built an excellent side that’s making history: they’ve equalled the second-longest unbeaten run in international soccer.

[{"selector":"#anim-c3ecde23-2f7c-46f3-809a-af82c4adf2d5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ae1ea0b-8f77-4bb8-89a1-babeeecec8db [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.6588215607660097%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Lionel Scaloni’s men are undefeated in 35 games, emulating the streaks enjoyed by Spain from 2007 to 2009, and Brazil from 1993 to 1996.

[{"selector":"#anim-1bb60d1e-b1e4-4ca4-b384-bb40b4919e1b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d31991e5-f1cf-45eb-b9ff-6d9348067980 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.16044758966328%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Italy went 37 matches unbeaten between 2018 and 2021 - so Argentina are just three games away from setting a new record.

[{"selector":"#anim-32d0bd06-8a4c-4c9a-b1e7-322d269d2f30","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a276cc69-b521-4f5f-ad42-75edc58a437e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 0.00976402136263527%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] With 90 international goals now to his name, Messi continues to excel for a country that heads into the World Cup as one of the chief favourites.

[{"selector":"#anim-87470a71-0c62-4d81-b314-707b83b0966d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b72451da-473b-423d-9fb9-ff24cf891cb9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.8620689655172413)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"fill":"forwards"}] At 35, Messi is approaching retirement age. Could Qatar 2022 be his last major tournament? All eyes will be on the Argentine.

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