Lionel Messi’s second season in Ligue 1 with PSG has started with an almighty bang.
The former Barcelona star had a solid debut campaign in Paris but notably only scored six goals in the league.
In PSG’s 2022-23 Ligue 1 opener, Messi showed signs he’s ready to well and truly let loose.
The 35-year-old provided a freakish assist for Neymar before scoring twice himself in a 5-0 demolition of Clermont Foot on Saturday.
It was the final goal of the game that really got people talking with Messi executing a picture-perfect overhead strike.
Messi scores stunning bicycle goal in Ligue 1 rout
Not generally known for his acrobatics, Messi adding yet another string to his bow in PSG’s win over Clermont.
With just four minutes of regular time remaining and the game all but wrapped up at 4-0, the Argentine pulled out a party trick he’s rarely shown during his career.
Neymar found Messi in the box with a lobbed through ball, he chested the ball down with his back to goal and struck a sumptous overhead strike that looped over the stranded goalkeeper.
It was a moment of pure football perfection and proved Messi is still capable of surprising fans and even teammates with moments of magic.
This Messi bicycle kick goal is insane… pic.twitter.com/XuXtXv62ux
— Weston Blasi (@westonblasi) August 6, 2022
Neymar’s priceless reaction to Lionel Messi’s brilliant bicycle-kick.#Messi𓃵|#Messi|#CF63PSG|#UCL pic.twitter.com/HcUSCeupqV
— #ChampionsLeague (@alimo_philip) August 6, 2022
This bicycle kick goal by Messi is extraordinary pic.twitter.com/8r3iW2TzPC
— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) August 7, 2022
Feels like a very un-Messi-like goal for some reason, but still brilliant. Maybe he’s just ticking bicycle kick goal off his list. https://t.co/RH44XjTr3m
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) August 6, 2022
Messi just scored an INSANE bicycle kick but the most impressive bit of that goal was the chest control.
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) August 6, 2022
Messi’s best PSG goals
Having only scored 11 goals in all competitions in his first season with PSG, Messi’s bicycle has quickly jumped to the top of the list of his best goals for the club.
Five of Messi’s goals last season came in the UEFA Champions League and one of his finer strikes came in a 2-0 win over Manchester City.
The Argentine played a brilliant one-two with Kylian Mbappe before rifling the ball past a helpless Ederson.
In Ligue 1, one of Messi’s best in 2021-22 came against Lens in April when he picked out the top left-hand corner from the top of the box.
The 35-year-old also notably chipped in with plenty of assists with 14 provided alone in Ligue 1 last season.
