<p>The Lionel Messi era has begun at Paris Saint-Germain, without a goal for the Argentine superstar but plenty of adulation and fanfare.</p>.<p>Messi made his debut for PSG on Sunday after coming off the bench midway through the second half in a 2-0 win at Reims in the French league.</p>.<p>Messi replaced his friend and former Barcelona teammate Neymar in the 66th minute and they shared a hug.</p>.<p>After years of glory for Messi at the 99,000-capacity Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, the record six-time Ballon d'Or winner and four-time Champions League victor made his first PSG appearance at the modest 20,000-seater Stade Auguste Delaune.</p>.<p>Such is Messi's star factor that the home fans chanted “Messi, Messi” while a smiling Reims goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic took a photo of Messi holding a child after the game.</p>.<p>PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino was touched by the reception for Messi, pointing out that supporters of both teams were delighted to see him play.</p>.<p>“The welcome he got was something beautiful to see and hear, on the part of our fans but also the Reims fans,” Pochettino said.</p>.<p>“Messi was very happy about it. His presence generates more enthusiasm, everyone can feel it and it has an effect on the other players."</p>.<p>Before the match, hundreds of fans gathered for a glimpse of Messi as he descended the team bus and he waved back at them.</p>.<p>They wanted to see one of the all-time greats, along with Pele and the late Diego Maradona, who Messi adored.</p>.<p>Messi's incredible skill, close control, grace, vision, dancing feet, astute passing, speed of thought and execution have thrilled fans for years.</p>.<p>He netted 672 goals for Barca and won 35 trophies for the Spanish giant, including the 2015 Champions League alongside Neymar.</p>.<p>That was the last time Messi won Europe's elite trophy and, somewhat ironically, his last goal for Barca in the Champions League was a brilliant strike away to PSG last season in the round of 16.</p>.<p>The 34-year-old Messi, who led his nation to the Copa America title last month, joined PSG three weeks ago after his new contract with Barcelona fell through.</p>.<p>Striker Kylian Mbappe was named in the starting lineup as Real Madrid tries to sign him before the end of the summer transfer window.</p>.<p>Mbappe had already scored both goals before Messi came on.</p>.<p>He headed in Angel Di Maria's cross in the 15th minute and then turned in Achraf Hakimi's cross in the 63rd for his 135th goal since joining PSG in 2017.</p>.<p>“No, I wasn't surprised by his enthusiasm,” said Pochettino, who did not comment on Mbappe's immediate future.</p>.<p>For it remains to be seen whether it's his last for PSG, which has started the season with four straight wins and has 12 points.</p>.<p><strong>Other matches</strong></p>.<p>French champion Lille and Monaco finally won their first games of the season.</p>.<p>Yusuf Yazici and Jonathan David scored as Lille beat Montpellier 2-1, and Sofiane Diop grabbed both goals as Monaco bounced back with a 2-1 win at Troyes.</p>.<p>Angers remains unbeaten and has 10 points after beating Rennes 2-0 at home.</p>.<p>Also, it was: Lens 2, Lorient 2; Strasbourg 3, Brest 1; Clermont 2, Metz 2.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>The Lionel Messi era has begun at Paris Saint-Germain, without a goal for the Argentine superstar but plenty of adulation and fanfare.</p>.<p>Messi made his debut for PSG on Sunday after coming off the bench midway through the second half in a 2-0 win at Reims in the French league.</p>.<p>Messi replaced his friend and former Barcelona teammate Neymar in the 66th minute and they shared a hug.</p>.<p>After years of glory for Messi at the 99,000-capacity Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, the record six-time Ballon d'Or winner and four-time Champions League victor made his first PSG appearance at the modest 20,000-seater Stade Auguste Delaune.</p>.<p>Such is Messi's star factor that the home fans chanted “Messi, Messi” while a smiling Reims goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic took a photo of Messi holding a child after the game.</p>.<p>PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino was touched by the reception for Messi, pointing out that supporters of both teams were delighted to see him play.</p>.<p>“The welcome he got was something beautiful to see and hear, on the part of our fans but also the Reims fans,” Pochettino said.</p>.<p>“Messi was very happy about it. His presence generates more enthusiasm, everyone can feel it and it has an effect on the other players."</p>.<p>Before the match, hundreds of fans gathered for a glimpse of Messi as he descended the team bus and he waved back at them.</p>.<p>They wanted to see one of the all-time greats, along with Pele and the late Diego Maradona, who Messi adored.</p>.<p>Messi's incredible skill, close control, grace, vision, dancing feet, astute passing, speed of thought and execution have thrilled fans for years.</p>.<p>He netted 672 goals for Barca and won 35 trophies for the Spanish giant, including the 2015 Champions League alongside Neymar.</p>.<p>That was the last time Messi won Europe's elite trophy and, somewhat ironically, his last goal for Barca in the Champions League was a brilliant strike away to PSG last season in the round of 16.</p>.<p>The 34-year-old Messi, who led his nation to the Copa America title last month, joined PSG three weeks ago after his new contract with Barcelona fell through.</p>.<p>Striker Kylian Mbappe was named in the starting lineup as Real Madrid tries to sign him before the end of the summer transfer window.</p>.<p>Mbappe had already scored both goals before Messi came on.</p>.<p>He headed in Angel Di Maria's cross in the 15th minute and then turned in Achraf Hakimi's cross in the 63rd for his 135th goal since joining PSG in 2017.</p>.<p>“No, I wasn't surprised by his enthusiasm,” said Pochettino, who did not comment on Mbappe's immediate future.</p>.<p>For it remains to be seen whether it's his last for PSG, which has started the season with four straight wins and has 12 points.</p>.<p><strong>Other matches</strong></p>.<p>French champion Lille and Monaco finally won their first games of the season.</p>.<p>Yusuf Yazici and Jonathan David scored as Lille beat Montpellier 2-1, and Sofiane Diop grabbed both goals as Monaco bounced back with a 2-1 win at Troyes.</p>.<p>Angers remains unbeaten and has 10 points after beating Rennes 2-0 at home.</p>.<p>Also, it was: Lens 2, Lorient 2; Strasbourg 3, Brest 1; Clermont 2, Metz 2.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>