Sports

Messi’s Custom Bag Highlights Career Stages, Omits PSG Crest

By Soror Shaiza

Lionel Messi was seen arriving at Inter Miami’s training ground with a personalized black bag that bears the crests of Barcelona, Newell’s Old Boys, Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. The bag, which was shared by the club, does not include the crest of Paris Saint‑Germain, where Messi played from 2021 to 2023.

The photograph attracted attention on social media, with some fans speculating that the omission was a deliberate snub to the French club. Messi has not explained the choice or said whether the missing badge carries any particular meaning.

The four crests on the bag represent key stages of Messi’s career: Newell’s Old Boys, where he developed as a youth in Rosario; Barcelona, where he spent 17 senior seasons and became the club’s record goalscorer; the Argentina national team, which he captained to a 2022 World Cup victory; and Inter Miami, the club he joined after leaving European football in 2023.

Messi’s two seasons at PSG were marked by domestic success, including two Ligue 1 titles and a Trophée des Champions, but he did not win the Champions League and his relationship with the club’s supporters and management deteriorated. After a suspension in May 2023 over a missed training session, Messi’s contract expired in the summer of 2023 and he moved to Inter Miami.

The omission of the PSG crest has drawn attention, but no confirmation exists that it was intended as a message to the French club. The bag’s selection simply reflects the four distinct parts of Messi’s footballing life from his childhood in Rosario to his current role in Major League Soccer.