Lionel Messi's move to Paris Saint-Germain is complete, and it happened in a style befitting of his status as the world's best player.
Private jets. Crowded streets. Fans massing at the stadium. An elaborate reveal.
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After his emotional departure from Barcelona two days earlier, Messi traveled to Paris on Tuesday to finalize the move, which is a two-year deal -- plus the option for a third -- with the Ligue 1 power.
Messi will meet the media and be formally introduced at a news conference on Wednesday, but first came remarkable scenes in two countries as the star and his family made their move.
π¨π¨ AMBIANCE EXCEPTIONNELLE ICI AU BOURGET SUITE Γ L'OFFICIALISATION DU TRANSFERT DE LIONEL MESSI π¦π·π¦π· pic.twitter.com/GrFOX2VjdC
β Canal Supporters (@CanalSupporters) August 10, 2021
π₯π₯ DISPOSITIF DE SΓCURITΓ IMPRESSIONNANT π ET UNE ΓNORME FOULE A QUELQUES MINUTES DE L'ARRIVΓE DE MESSI π¦π· Γ PARIS π΄π΅#PSG #Messi #TeamPSG pic.twitter.com/Z81BkjQA7K
β Canal Supporters (@CanalSupporters) August 10, 2021
Fans filmed the police motorcade taking Messi to American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris, for his medical assessment.
π¨π¨π¨π¨π¨π¨ EXCLU CANAL SUPPORTERS ! @CanalSupporters Lionel Messi est arrivΓ© Γ l'hΓ΄pital American de Neuilly pour passer sa visite mΓ©dicale !!! π¨π¨π¨π¨π¨π¨ #PSG #Messi #MessiPSG pic.twitter.com/hHQNlBqRq2
β Canal Supporters (@CanalSupporters) August 10, 2021
The crowds were also at Parc des Princes to welcome Messi, who will join a team already loaded with stars such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos.
PSG fans are gathered outside the Parc des Princes stadium to welcome Lionel Messi π¦π·π pic.twitter.com/sjGjzA5F6z
β ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 9, 2021
Messi and wife Antonela Roccuzzo earlier took a photo aboard their private jet, but the Argentine player changed shirts to greet his new supporters.
Messi and his family are ready to begin a new adventure π€π«π· pic.twitter.com/Z6DuTgCQDd
β ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 10, 2021
Wearing a shirt that says "This is Paris" in French while in Paris -- in front of Parisians -- seems as if it should be some kind of fashion faux pas, but then again, this is Messi.
Messi has arrived in Paris π @ESPNFC pic.twitter.com/rmAx8azEAi
β ESPN (@espn) August 10, 2021
In dramatic fashion, Messi came to the window to meet his new devotees, and, with a wave, Paris has its newest hero.
As if the long days of waiting wasn't enough for PSG supporters, the club continued to tantalizingly tease Messi's arrival with various short video snippets...
β³ pic.twitter.com/d7iPcYoOD3
β Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 10, 2021
β³ pic.twitter.com/XlwqFdBCsD
β Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 10, 2021
β³ pic.twitter.com/V0pmEfoug3
β Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 10, 2021
Finally, at 10:15 p.m. Paris time, the moment we had all been waiting for: Lionel Messi is officially a PSG player! Here is how the Parisian club unveiled their new star with a little help from a drone.
A new π in Paris !
β Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 10, 2021
PSGxMESSI β€οΈπ pic.twitter.com/2JpYSRtpCy
And how about a first picture with with Messi and his No. 30 PSG shirt?
Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce the signing of Leo Messi on a two-year contract with an option of a third year.https://t.co/D5Qjq7PJfF#PSGxMESSI β€οΈπ pic.twitter.com/msJAnW01V5
β Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 10, 2021
Now can he deliver the city the Champions League title it has craved for so long? A new era has begun...