Lionel Messi and Neymar have both been snubbed from Ligue 1’s Player of the Season shortlist after underwhelming campaigns for Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentine has netted just four domestic goals across 24 appearances since his move to the Parc des Princes from Barcelona last summer. PSG completed their Ligue 1 title success in April but fans are so disillusioned with their side at the moment that they did not want to celebrate the success with the players.
That followed the supporters' major protest at a Ligue 1 clash against Rennes in which they blasted the 'overpaid mercenaries' on their books and attacked the board. Further, Mauricio Pochettino was booed by large sections of the home crowd when his name was read out ahead of kick-off before the title was secured amid reports that he is set to leave the club.
In March, PSG fans booed Lionel Messi and Neymar during the club's first Ligue 1 match following their elimination from the Champions League by Real Madrid at the last-16 stage. The two South American superstars were jeered with every touch of the ball they had against Bordeaux. Those boos came just a day after PSG ultras called on president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to resign following their club's latest European humbling.
Both of the South American players have been excluded from the five-man shortlist for the best player in Ligue 1 this season. The only PSG player to make the cut was star striker Kylian Mbappe, who has netted a devastating 24 goals for the club in Ligue 1 this season to spearhead his side’s title success.
Indeed, each of the five players shortlisted come from different clubs. Former West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet has been included due to his exploits at Marseille this season with Jorge Sampaoli’s side currently second in the division.
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Also shortlisted are Olympique Lyonnais’s Brazilian attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta, Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder and Rennes frontman Martin Terrier – who has scored 21 goals in Ligue 1 this season. Each of those three players have been the standout players in their respective sides this year, although notably they complete a shortlist which is comprised solely of attacking players.
It is the absence of Messi from the shortlist which is predictably drawing the most attention, although it is little surprise that the Argentine has been excluded. Despite still registering an impressive tally of assists, the 34-year-old has not been his side’s key player and by any metric – his output this campaign has been one that is hugely underwhelming.
It is the first time that the Argentine superstar has not been included for an individual award in his league since the 2008/09 – a run of over a decade that has now been ended following his below par start to life in the French capital.
