Lionel Messi ‘lands back in Paris’ as private jet touches down from Argentina hometown after World Cup celebrations
LIONEL MESSI has landed back in Paris to report for club duty again after his World Cup celebrations at home in Argentina.
A private jet flew overnight from Rosario, Messi’s hometown, to the French capital, landing at 3.15pm on Tuesday.
More than 4,700 fans were tracking the aircraft on popular website Flightradar24 as it made its way across the Atlantic.
Argentine football reporter Roy Nemer also tweeted on Monday night with a picture of Messi and possibly wife Antonela on the tarmac boarding a plane headed for Paris.
The Gulfstream G-V jet took off from Rosario at 10pm and touched down 13 hours later at the tiny Paris–Le Bourget Airport rather than the main Charles de Gaulle site.
It is unclear if the vehicle used was Messi’s own £12million private jet complete with two bathrooms, 16 seats that convert into eight beds and even its very own kitchen.
Assuming it was the Messis on board, Lionel and Antonela would have been joined by their three sons – Mateo, Ciro and Thiago – to return to their family home.
The family enjoyed two weeks back in Argentina after winning the World Cup.
Messi joined in the dramatic team celebrations as thousands of fans turned out in Buenos Aires to welcome back their Qatar 2022 heroes.
Messi was, of course, the star attraction as he finally got hold of the one trophy that had eluded him in his illustrious career.
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The captain scored seven goals and was crowned player of the tournament in the Middle East.
And after the jubilant scenes in his homeland, Messi carried on the private parties for Christmas and New Year with his family and friends.
But now he is getting back to work with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Ligue 1 champions beat Strasbourg last Wednesday despite Neymar’s red card in the first match after the World Cup break.
However, Christophe Galtier’s side were crying out for some Messi magic as they were stunned 3-1 by Lens – but still sit four points clear at the top of the table.
PSG face third-tier minnows Chateauroux in the Coupe de France on Friday before Angers and Rennes in league action with Messi surely set to make his return in one of those matches.
But the forward and his team-mates may already have half an eye on their blockbuster Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich on February 14.
