Lionel Messi's 'Strict' Shirt Swap Rules Have Re-Emerged After He Appears To Reject Player On His Debut

As one of the biggest, greatest footballers of all time, it's inevitable that players in Ligue 1 were going to ask for Lionel Messi's shirt at some point this season.

That happened on Sunday night as the Argentinian made his long-awaited debut for PSG against Reims, with winger Mitchell van Bergen pleading for a swap after the full time whistle.

But, not for the first time, Messi turned down the request, sparking conversation about the idea of shirt swapping and who Messi would be willing to exchange with

In a recent interview with Argentinian TV channel TyC Sports, as quoted by The Mirror, Messi admitted he doesn't really like the practice and said there are only a select few players he'd be willing to swap shirts with.

"I don't ask for shirts," he said. "I usually swap them but I asked Zidane once.

If there is an Argentine I swap with him, but unless someone asks me, I'm not asking anyone."

Messi's shirt collection which appears in several of his posts on social media seems to confirm this view.

Whilst it does include jerseys from the likes of Phillip Lahm and Gianlugi Buffon, it mainly consists of shirts from Argentinian legends such as Angel di Maria and Sergio Aguero.

Messi was involved in a similar incident whilst at Barcelona last summer. Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies requested a shirt swap after the Champions League Quarter Final of August 2020 but Messi turned the offer down.

Messi did make one fan's night though, signing a banner that was being held up in the stands. He also took a photo with the child of Rennes' goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic once the game had finished.

Although it was a short introduction to life in Paris, Messi's 14 minute debut went as well as he could have expected, with two goals from Kylian Mbappe securing a PSG victory that moves them two points clear at the top of the table.

Supporters will have to wait a while before Messi makes his first full start for PSG, with their next game coming on 12^th September against Clermont de Foot at the Parc Des Princes.

Featured Image Credit: Bein Sports

Topics: Football, Ligue 1, PSG, Messi

James Aldred