Lionel Messi scored his first goal since reaching the landmark age of 35 when he fired Paris Saint-Germain ahead in Wednesday’s pre-season friendly with Kawasaki Frontale.
Messi netted just 11 goals in all competitions for PSG last season but club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said last month that in 2022/23 “we will see the best version of Messi ever.”
The Argentina captain’s first pre-season appearance came in a 2-0 win over Quevilly on Friday.
But his first goal arrived on Wednesday when PSG kicked off their tour of Japan with a 2-1 victory over Kawasaki.
Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar all started as PSG named an all-star lineup against Kawasaki.
Mbappe was involved in Messi’s goal when he jinked inside from the left and clipped in a deep cross to Achraf Hakimi, who volleyed the ball back to Messi.
Messi struck the ball right-footed and his shot took a big deflection on its way into the net.
Substitute Arnaud Kalimuendo made it 2-0 in the second half before Kazuya Yamamura pulled one back for Kawasaki late on.
Messi celebrated his 35th birthday last month during a family holiday with former Barcelona teammate Cesc Fabregas in Ibiza.
Lionel Messi, 35, pictured during PSG’s tour of Japan in 2022
IMAGO/AFLOSPORT