Lionel Messi fired a match-winning double after reuniting with Ronaldinho and propelled him to the heights of Barcelona’s golden years.
The South American giants embrace before PSG’s 3-2 draw over RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Argentina’s Messi, a club Barca icon until joining PSG this summer, and Brazilian Ronaldinho overlapped at the Nou Camp from 2004–08 – with Messi eventually taking over as star man.
Barcelona won LaLiga and the Champions League twice at that time.
And Messi, in particular, looked like he was greeting a friend he had been missing for decades, as he wrapped his arms around the Brazilian, 41, and patted his back several times.
Ronaldinho, who was wearing a Barca scarf, then walked away with a distinctive giant smile of his own.
But after kick-off, the 34-year-old Messi had little to cheer for – until his second half was a sorcery.
Andre Silva and Nordi Mukhile converted an Angelino cross to reverse a fierce opening opener from PSG striker Kylian Mbappe.
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But Messi returned home after his 67th minute shot was intercepted at a post.
And he swung home a Panenka penalty seven minutes later to secure the win.
Messi’s quickfire brace certainly lifted the mood for both himself and boss Mauricio Pochettino after the question mark over the frontman’s influence so far this season.
And despite Messi being on a hat-trick deep in stoppage time, he allowed Mbappe to take PSG’s second spot-kick of the night – but the French superstar blasted it high.
This has just confirmed that Messi is still the master, even though Mbappe has been strongly tipped for his dream move to Real Madrid next summer.
Table-toppers PSG are one point clear of Manchester City, despite Pep Guardiola’s 5-1 success at men’s Club Brugge.
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