Argentina's World Cup hero Lionel Messi returned to Paris to begin reintegration with Paris Saint-Germain after a well-deserved break.
Messi spent the second half of December celebrating his team's triumph in the World Cup final against France and his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe.
Messi was in Rosario with his family and friends as he welcomed the New Year, before leaving for Paris to resume club duties.
His return to training on Wednesday will be a welcome sign for PSG, who lost for the first time in any competition since March last year when they were defeated 3-1 at Lens on Sunday.
Without Messi, and the suspended Neymar, Christophe Galtier's team suffered a heavy despite the presence of Mbappe.
After the defeat, Galtier said he was looking forward to the return of Messi but said his absence was no excuse for the defeat.
“I hope Leo will be well received. He won the most beautiful trophy by being very good. We know he's a great and decisive player so we hope he'll be well received obviously,” the manager said.
“Kylian worked had. He showed a very good attitude. Leo and Ney were not there but that is no excuse.”
Messi and other stars celebrate New Year
-
Argentina great Lionel Messi celebrated the New Year with his family. Image @leomessi / Instagram -
India batting star Virat Kohli and wife Anushka Sharma celebrated New Year's eve in Dubai. @virat.kohli / Instagram -
NBA star Steph Curry was with the Golden State Warriors team on Saturday. @stephencurry30 / Instagram -
Lionel Messi with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo. @leomessi / Instagram -
Lewis Hamilton posted on Instagram: "I'm proud of all of us and rooting for us all to succeed in 2023". @lewishamilton / Instagram -
England star Raheem Sterling wrote: "2022 was a great year of new challenges and new beginnings. Here’s to a successful 2023". @sterling7 / Instagram -
Formula One driver Charles Leclerc wished for a successful New Year, adding "2022 was a good year, but we’ll give it all to make 2023 better". @charles_leclerc / Instagram -
NBA great Lebron James celebrated his birthday and New Year. @kingjames / Instagram -
WTA world No 1 Iga Swiatek welcomed 2023, saying: "Hopefully you will be there with me. Happy New Year!" @iga.swiatek / Instagram -
England Test captain Ben Stokes simply wrote "See you all in 2023". @stokesy / Instagram -
Rafael Nadal posted images of fireworks in Sydney in his New Year wishes. @rafaelnadal / Instagram -
Tennis player Eugenie Bouchard wrote: "Let’s see what 2023 has in store for us". @geniebouchard / Instagram
