Lionel Messi debut for PSG: The 17-year record Messi could not break

6-time Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi made his competitive bow for the Les Parisians today in the Matchday 4 against Reims. The Argentine attacker came on in the 66th minute to replace his former teammate Neymar. Messi was on the pitch for the remainder of the match but he had a subdued game against Reims. 

As the match wore on, Kylian Mbappe was the hero of the day, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at the Stade Auguste Delaune. This continues a record of Lionel Messi failing to score on his debut for any of his teams. In his official debut for the Catalans against Espanyol in October 2004, Lionel Messi played only 8 minutes. Similarly, during his Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League debut for FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi failed to find the back of the net. 

Messi will hope to open his scoring account with the Parisians when they welcome Clermont to the Parc des Princes after the upcoming international break. Despite having a slow start to life in the French capital, big things are expected of the 6-time Ballon d'Or winner. Most importantly, the club would expect that he leads the charge for its first-ever UEFA Champions League title. 

The capital club splashed the cash this summer on a summer of highly-rated signings. Bringing in Achraf Hakimi and Danilo Pereira from Inter Milan and FC Porto for a combined fee of €68m. Then they brought it Gini Wijnaldum, Gigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi on free transfers from Liverpool, AC Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Between their new players, there are at least 25 UEFA Champions League winners medals and the club hopes that such extensive spending will translate to winning the premier European league championship.