Lionel Messi helped Paris Saint-Germain to secure a comeback win by scoring a sensational last-gasp goal in Sunday's lunch-time clash with Lille. The 35-year-old forward hit a free-kick in the 95th minute to snatch all the three points for Les Parisians, in afternoon where Kylian Mbappe entered the history books.
What initially seemed like a comfortable ride to victory for PSG took an interesting turn under dramatic circumstances. Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr put the hosts two goals ahead inside the first 17 minutes.
However, before the half-time break, Bafode Diakite pulled one back for the visitors and Jonathan Bamba's spot-kick in the 58th minute brought Lille right back into the game. The latter subsequently increased Lille's advantage to three with another brilliant strike in the 69th minute, putting PSG on the back foot.
Kylian Mbappe, who scored the opener, then got his second in the 87th minute to give his side hope of victory. With the goal, the Frenchman took his career goals to 150, becoming the youngest player to reach that tally in Europe's top-five leagues since England legend Jimmy Greaves in 1962.
In the end, Lionel Messi won it in dramatic fashion, smashing home a 22-yard free-kick to secure all three points for the hosts who now remain seven points adrift of second placed Monaco. For the Argentine, the freekick goal took him a step beyond legendary Dutch defender, Ronald Koeman, in 9th place on the all-time list of free-kick takers. The Paris Saint-Germain talisman is now at par with Brazilian goalkeeper, Rogerio Ceni who scored 61, while Juninho sits atop the list with 77.
A Lionel Messi free-kick makes it 4-3 to PSG, five minutes into stoppage time!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 19, 2023
His 699th club goal turns it around against Lille to secure all three points! pic.twitter.com/9YlSXruIqq
