Lionel Messi’s hopes of winning the Champions League for the first time since 2015 have been dealt a huge blow after his side, Barcelona, were knocked out of the competition by Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentine superstar has been a mainstay in the competition since his debut in 2004, but his hopes of lifting the trophy for a sixth time have been dashed after PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory.
And now, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has predicted that Messi will never play in the Champions League again.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: “I think this could be the last time we see Messi in the Champions League.
“He’s 33 now and I think he’s got one or two years left at Barcelona, but I think this could be the last time we see him in the Champions League.
“It’s a huge blow for him and for Barcelona, who have been so reliant on him for so many years.
“It’s a huge blow for the competition as well, because he’s been one of the greatest players to ever play in the Champions League.
“It’s a huge shame that we won’t get to see him in the competition again, but I think this could be it.”
Messi has been a talismanic figure for Barcelona in the Champions League, scoring a record 115 goals in the competition.
He has also won the competition four times, in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015, and has been a runner-up on three occasions.
But his hopes of winning the trophy for a fifth time have been dashed, and Carragher believes that this could be the last time we see him in the competition.
It’s a sad end to an illustrious career in the Champions League, and one that will be remembered for years to come.
