Lionel Messi signed a two-year contract with PSG and was introduced on Wednesday in front of the French supporters and media. Thousands of fans gathered in front of the Parc des Princes to welcome the iconic Argentinean. 34-year-old Messi promised the PSG faithful he’ll do his best to bring the club to Champions League glory and dreams of winning a seventh Ballon d’Or.
After Messi’s move to PSG was completed, the French powerhouse became favorites to win the Champions League. They are at +275 to celebrate at the end of next season, with 2021 finalists City at +350. PSG look set to claim the Ligue 1 title, with the money line currently at -800. Lyon and Lille are both at +1100.
Messi scored at a fantastic rate for Barcelona since the start of the year and won the Copa America for Argentina this summer. He’s won the Ballon d’Or a record-breaking six times and is the favorite to capture it in 2021 as well. Bookies have him at -225 to lift the most important individual trophy in world football, beating his new colleague Kylian Mbappe, teenage sensation Erling Haaland, Champions League winners N’Golo Kante and Jorginho, and Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski in the race.
Messi is at -350 to score at least 20 goals in the French Ligue 1 next season. A minimum of 25 goals is at -175 while surpassing the 30 goal mark stands at +110. An immense over 35 goals in Messi’s inaugural campaign at Parc des Princes is at +700.
With Messi in their already star-studded line-up, PSG is at +350 to win 100 or more points in the Ligue 1.
Messi has four Champions League winners’ medals in his trophy room. He netted 120 times and assisted 36 goals in the competition. His predicted contribution slashed the odds for PSG winning both the Champions League and Ligue 1, with the moneyline placing them at +300 for a double. A historical treble, adding the French Cup to the league and Champions League, is now at +500. Messi is at +500 to become the Champions League’s top goalscorer in the 2020/2021 season, and his odds of becoming the top goal-scorer in the UCL — and PSG winning it — sits at +1100.
Messi’s transfer to PSG made bookies adjust their odds, predicting a big season for both the Paris giants and Messi individually. The news of his move to the French capital is arguably the biggest story of 2021 in world football.
