Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has claimed that it was not possible for Lionel Messi to play his best football at Paris Saint-Germain alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
The Argentinian World Cup winner scored 32 goals in 75 appearances during his time in the French capital, winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles in the process.
However, he was unable to guide PSG beyond the last 16 of the Champions League and left for MLS side Inter Miami in June.
Messi's time at the club was not without controversy, with the seven-time Balon d'Or winner suspended for two weeks earlier this year after taking an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia.
Suggestions of fractured relationship with fellow forwards Mbappe and Neymar dominated the final months of last season.
Henry, who recently became manager of the France U21 side, defended his former Barcelona team-mate's spell in France when asked if it had been underwhelming.
He told RMC Sport: 'No, I'll say why. I remind you when I arrived at the beginning [as a pundit], on Amazon, I said 'For me to play in this team, it's a headache'.
'I was talking about structure, organization. How do you play with all three (Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe) at the same time?
'When he (Messi) played with the Argentina team, [there was] a structure. There are not three Messi's, just him. You put him in a framework where he alone is the boss [and he will shine].'
Messi has enjoyed a successful start to his career in Miami, finding the net 11 times in his first 11 appearances.
A number of fans were left disappointed on Saturday as the forward missed Inter Miami's 5-2 defeat to Atlanta United.
Neymar also left Paris this summer, joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in a £78million deal.
The Brazilian made his debut for his new side last week, and fans booed when the new arrival was denied the chance to take a late penalty in a 6-1 win against Al-Riyadh.
The departures have left Mbappe as the main man at PSG despite a summer of speculation that initially saw him banished from training with Luis Enrique's side.
He has since returned to the team though, scoring seven goals in just four league appearances this term.
The 24-year-old found the net twice in Friday's 3-2 defeat to Nice at the Parc des Princes.
W0linhO
516
Mbappe will always be the reason PSG couldn't get what they wanted from Messi. An ego inflated brat that hv literally won nothing but acts like he's been there done that
WESTAFRICAN22
436
Henry i know u cannot say directly what u mean if not they will kill you but some people's understand it well....
1993daniel
406
King With Queen 💕💕💕
onaya
205
In Madrid's case of BBC, all the other two of Benzema and Bale submitted to CR7 supremacy as the obvious bigger player so it worked. In the case of the MSN, the two of Saurez and Neymar submitted to Messi who was also in his prime like CR7. Now in PSG, Messi came when he is not in his prime. The only player among the 3 forward that's playing at his prime is Mbappe. Messi and Neymar who also are big name would not want to submit to Mbappe to lead the charge. Every club is working with an eye for the future that's why you see Bellingham playing over Modric despite Modric the Master.
Liodbest
8
In Madrid's case of BBC, all the other two of Benzema and Bale submitted to CR7 supremacy as the obvious bigger player so it worked. In the case of the MSN, the two of Saurez and Neymar submitted to Messi who was also in his prime like CR7. Now in PSG, Messi came when he is not in his prime. The only player among the 3 forward that's playing at his prime is Mbappe. Messi and Neymar who also are big name would not want to submit to Mbappe to lead the charge. Every club is working with an eye for the future that's why you see Bellingham playing over Modric despite Modric the Master.
words from a fan who sees but doesn't know 🤣🤣🤣 MSN there wasn't no submit, because they were friends so they play together for the good of the team, Madrid BBC there was someone who always wanted to score which is cr4 🤣🤣🤣 that's why they didn't score more goals then MSN... and PSG Mbappe was the main men, Messi did his Job creating chances for Mbappe but he missed a lot, if it was cr4 he would score all of it... but the shadow of Messi cover Mbappe even though he was the main men that's why he get all the blame
Sanbilsty
8
In Madrid's case of BBC, all the other two of Benzema and Bale submitted to CR7 supremacy as the obvious bigger player so it worked. In the case of the MSN, the two of Saurez and Neymar submitted to Messi who was also in his prime like CR7. Now in PSG, Messi came when he is not in his prime. The only player among the 3 forward that's playing at his prime is Mbappe. Messi and Neymar who also are big name would not want to submit to Mbappe to lead the charge. Every club is working with an eye for the future that's why you see Bellingham playing over Modric despite Modric the Master.
The problem is Mbappe as good a finisher as he is cannot control the game like Messi does. Instead of allowing Messi control the game which would still result in him scoring a bucket load of goals lie Suarez and Neymar did (which was what made the MSN so great), they were trying to run everything through Mbappe. Mbappe is a finisher but he cannot control the game like Messi does and for that it could never work and they could never utilise Messi. The world cup proved that it wasn't about Messi not being up there anymore, it was the role given to him in PSG. I think by now we all know that Henry knows ball so we should respect the man when he speaks. He is spot on. He is speaking about his country man so there is no hate there. but he also knows Messi up close and knows how to get the best out of him and he knows that PSG failed to do that...