Paris Saint-Germain traveled to Sammy Ofer Stadium in Israel on Wednesday to play an entirely overmatched Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League, giving locals a chance to gaze upon a PSG starting XI that included Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Sergio Ramos.
But as the teams lined up for the traditional prematch playing of the Champions League anthem, it was clear that all the children who'd accompanied the players out onto the pitch were there for one man and one man only: Messi.
Just look what it means to these children to meet Lionel Messi ❤️️#UCL pic.twitter.com/4CBBbeM4r8
— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) September 14, 2022
To make this lifelong story even better for the kids, Messi went out and scored PSG's first.
Mbappe with the dance moves, Lionel Messi with the finish, his 126th #UCL goal.
PSG level it up. pic.twitter.com/nW7iQdMSwi— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 14, 2022
Messi: Not just a father to Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, but a father to us all.