Paris Saint-Germain defeated Toulouse 2-1 on Saturday thanks to Lionel Messi’s game-winning goal from distance in the 58th minute.
PSG's squad is dealing with several key injuries including Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Sergio Ramos. With Messi’s usual strike partners out injured he took matters into his own hands with a beautiful left-footed shot.
Lionel Messi goal vs Toulouse
LI⚽️NEL MESSIII Magical
2-1Enjoy PSG vs. Toulouse LIVE NOW on beIN SPORTS #Ligue1 #PSGTFC pic.twitter.com/lPXyqyw7zC
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 4, 2023
Most league goals scored from outside the box in Europe's top five divisions since 2017/18:
39 - Lionel Messi
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19 - Kevin De Bruyne pic.twitter.com/raZGqtqEKf— Squawka (@Squawka) February 4, 2023
Messi has played five league games for PSG since returning from his World Cup rest and has found the back of the net three times. He’s a man in scary form with eyes on his first UEFA Champions League title since 2015.
Messi will need to keep creating this sort of magic as PSG’s Round of 16 game vs. Bayern Munich is on Feb. 14 and Mbappé will be out with a hamstring injury.
PSG’s first goal of the game came from Achraf Hakimi with another shot from outside the box. This one is arguably better than Messi’s goal!
THIS GOAL Hakimi equalizes it for PSG
1-1Enjoy PSG vs. Toulouse LIVE NOW on beIN SPORTS #Ligue1 #PSGTFC pic.twitter.com/MwT6kZKo7t
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 4, 2023
Hakimi’s goal was just what PSG needed after Toulouse took an early lead from a free kick in the 20th minute.
TOULOUSE SURPRISE PSG!!!! incredible goal pic.twitter.com/OLhY4S9EKT
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 4, 2023
The win extends PSG’s lead atop the Ligue 1 table as the Parisian club have an eight-point gap on second place Marseille who play Sunday.
PSG’s next game will be against Marseille in the Coupe de France Round of 16 on Wednesday.
