Messi missing while Mbappe is all smiles as PSG train for Champions League - in pictures

Christophe Galtier's team take on Benfica on Tuesday with Argentine ruled out due to calf injury

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  Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos during training on Monday, October 10, ahead of their Champions League match against Benfica. Reuters

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  PSG forward Kylian Mbappe jokes with Marco Verratti, right, during a training session at the club's Camp des Loges training ground. AFP

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  Neymar, left, looks on as midfielder Marco Verratti, second left, and defender Achraf Hakimi train for the Champions League first round match against Benfica. AFP

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  Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi during a training session on Monday. AFP

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  PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma vies for the ball with Sergio Ramos and Neymar during training. AFP

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  Kylian Mbappe during PSG's training session at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. AFP

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  Neymar jokes around during a training session. AFP

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  PSG's Fabian Ruiz controls the ball during training. AFP

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  Neymar jokes during a training session at PSG's Camp des Loges training ground. AFP

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  Kylian Mbappe and Neymar train for Tuesday's Champions League first round match against Benfica. AFP

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  Kylian Mbappe speaks with PSG manager Christophe Galtier alongside Achraf Hakimi and Neymar. AFP

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  Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos (L) jokes with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe during a training session at the club's Camp des Loges training ground in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris on October 10, 2022, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League first round Group H football match against Benfica. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

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  Kylian Mbappe shares a laugh with Marco Verratti. AFP

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  Sergio Ramos and Marco Verratti during training. Reuters

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  Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos train on Monday. Reuters

Paris Saint-Germain will be looking for a return to winning ways when they take on Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Ligue 1 leaders were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Reims on Saturday after being reduced to 10 men just before half time when defender Sergio Ramos was sent-off for the 28th time in his career.

Manager Christophe Galtier had made five changes from the team that drew 1-1 away to Benfica in their midweek Champions League fixture and was without the injured Lionel Messi.

The 35-year-old had scored his 127th Champions League goal during the game in Lisbon but asked to come off in the second half due to a calf problem which has now ruled him out of the reverse game at the Parc des Princes.

Messi's fitness will be a worry for PSG and Argentina, with the World Cup in Qatar a little over a month away.

Despite Messi's absence, Kylian Mbappe looked in fine fettle during training on Monday. A possible reason for his upbeat mood could be Forbes' latest list of the highest-paid footballers in the world.

The striker overtook teammate Messi and Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo to be become the best paid player in the world. According to the magazine, Mbappe will earn a record $128 million in annual earnings for the 2022/23 season, more than Messi ($120m) and Ronaldo ($100m).

PSG will also be without defenders Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes as well as midfielder Renato Sanches for Tuesday's game in the French capital. They sit top of Group H, ahead of Benfica on goals scored.

Highest paid footballers for 2022/23

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  1. PSG forward Kylian Mbappe tops Forbes list of highest-paid footballers for 2022-23, with an earning of $128 million. AFP

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  2. Lionel Messi - $120m. AFP

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  3. Cristiano Ronaldo - $100m. AFP

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  4. Neymar - $87m. Getty

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  5. Mohamed Salah - $53m. EPA

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  6. Erling Haaland - $39m. PA

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  7. Robert Lewandowski - $35m. AFP

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  8. Eden Hazard - $31m. PA

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  9. Andres Iniesta - $30m. AFP

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  10. Kevin de Bruyne - $29m. Getty