Lionel Messi will leave PSG when his contract expires this month, as manager Christophe Galtier confirmed he will play his final game for the club against Clermont Foot on June 3.
PSG had previously expressed confidence at agreeing a deal to activate Messi's extension clause until 2024, but he will now move on.
Messi has come in for criticism from PSG fans since the start of 2023, with the Parc des Princes faithful booing the Argentinian after he could not replicate his 2022 World Cup heroics for Argentina.
The soon-to-be 36 year old is expected to make a quick decision on his next move with offers from Europe, the Middle East, and the USA.
MORE: What comes next for Lionel Messi
Why is Lionel Messi leaving PSG?
Galtier's confirmation of Messi's impending exit made official the news that fans have been expecting since March when PSG were ousted from the UEFA Champions League.
BREAKING: Lionel Messi will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, head coach Christophe Galtier has confirmed 🚨❌ pic.twitter.com/s45c0DQgRe
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 1, 2023
PSG still won back-to-back French Ligue 1 titles with Messi, and the former Barcelona talisman has racked up 16 goals and 16 assists in 2022/23 as PSG saw off the challenge from Lens in the stretch run of the season.
MORE: Is Kylian Mbappe also leaving PSG? What France star has said about his future
Why is Lionel Messi leaving PSG?
Messi's relationship with PSG has deteriorated since the start of 2023, although club officials were open to an extension before he left for the World Cup in November 2022.
After being granted an extended post-tournament break to celebrate back in Argentina, Messi returned to PSG as a key part of Galtier's plans.
However, another Champions League Round of 16 exit at the hands of Bayern Munich led to fan protests over their disillusionment with PSG's all-star squad.
Galtier's big-name players, including Messi, were singled out for criticism at a lack of perceived effort in crucial games, with Brazilian playmaker Neymar also coming into question.
MORE: Why it's now or never for Messi to make the move to the USA
While there was also booing directed at others in the club, including management, Messi was viewed as the embodiment of the team's wild transfer planning and a strategy that ultimately failed to achieve a long-awaited Champions League title.
The final straw for Messi came in May, after PSG suspended him for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia, as part of a promotional campaign with the country's tourism board.
Lionel Messi has released a video apologizing to PSG and his teammates, and says he is waiting to see what the club wants to do moving forward. pic.twitter.com/PYdgcYhH2H
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 5, 2023
Despite Messi's public apology, and the suspension being reduced, the damage was done between his relationship with the club's hierarchy.
MORE: What Messi said in his apology to PSG for Saudi Arabia trip
Next club for Lionel Messi?
With Messi now set to leave PSG, he looks to have three options on the table for the 2023/24 campaign based on news reports.
A return to Barcelona has been suggested, with Xavi and club president Joan Laporta confirming they are in talks with Messi's camp, but the club's financial issues could prevent them from putting a package together.
Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal have made an approach with the richest contract in sports history, and they are ahead of Barcelona in the race, with reports from AFP claiming a deal is already complete.
However, it's been reported that there is also a potential route to bring Messi back to Catalonia, via a combined agreement with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
The idea mooted would be for Messi to sign for Inter Miami and to be loaned to Barca for the 2023/24 season, giving him a full season playing at the elite European level before the 2024 Copa America in US.
Messi would then presumably start life in MLS from either 2024 or 2025, knowing that the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada would be on the horizon in 2026.