Dejected Lionel Messi ‘consoled by Neymar in PSG dressing-room after missing penalty against Real Madrid’

LIONEL MESSI was consoled by Neymar in the PSG dressing room after his penalty miss against Real Madrid. The 34-year-old Argentine was thwarted by Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois as his low spot kick was saved by the Madrid shot-stopper. PSG went on to win the game 1-0 – thanks to a stoppage time Kylian Mbappe […]

LIONEL MESSI was consoled by Neymar in the PSG dressing room after his penalty miss against Real Madrid.

The 34-year-old Argentine was thwarted by Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois as his low spot kick was saved by the Madrid shot-stopper.

Reuters

Lionel Messi’s penalty was saved by Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois[/caption]

Rex

Neymar consoled Messi at the end of the match – a 1-0 win for PSG[/caption]

PSG went on to win the game 1-0 – thanks to a stoppage time Kylian Mbappe winner – and head into the second leg at the Bernabeu with a slender advantage.

Yet despite winning the game, Messi looked disappointed after the final whistle.

Former Barcelona team-mate Neymar was there for him on the pitch as he put an arm around the South American legend.

According to RMC Sport, that support continued into the dressing room where Neymar comforted him after the penalty miss.

The drama at the Parc des Princes occurred in the 62nd minute when Mbappe was brought down by Dani Carvajal following a trademark burst into the box.

Messi stepped up to the plate, having netted all five of his previous penalties against Real.

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But the Argentine was denied a 126th Champions League goal as Courtois dived the right way, blocking the shot.

Messi has scored just seven times in 21 appearances for PSG so far this season.

And former England international Gary Lineker tweeted following the penalty miss that people should lower their expectations of both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

He said: “Messi is 35 in June. Ronaldo has just turned 37. We should probably lower our expectations.

“They still do wonderful things, but not even these footballing Gods can defy father time forever.”

The second leg between PSG and Madrid will take place in the Bernabeu on March 9.

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