Messi First PSG Appearance Since World Cup

In an effort to bind the Argentine to a new deal, Paris Saint-Germain, which is controlled by Qatar, expects Lionel Messi to make his first appearance for the club since winning the World Cup on Wednesday in a Ligue 1 match at home against Angers.

A little more than three weeks after motivating Argentina to victory against France on penalties in an exciting World Cup final in Qatar, the 35-year-old participated in practice with his teammates on Tuesday.

Following the tournament, he was given permission to take a two-week vacation in his native country. After returning to Paris, he was honored last Wednesday at PSG's training facility.

Prior to the World Cup, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, who had scored 12 goals in 19 games for his club this season, missed PSG's victory at Chateauroux in the French Cup.

However, he might get the nod when the Ligue 1 front-runners host Angers, who are last in the standings and have dropped their previous nine games.

Since Messi's initial two-year contract in Paris is nearing to an end, many people will be watching how he handles the second half of the season in France following a World Cup that defined his career.

However, the Qatar-owned club are in talks to extend his contract with coach Christophe Galtier insisting the former Barcelona star is settled in the French capital.

“I know there are talks and that the club has spoken to Leo but I don’t know where they are at,” Galtier told reporters on Tuesday.

“Leo seems to me to be happy in Paris and I think there is a real desire on behalf of the club to extend Leo’s contract,” added Galtier, who said that Luis Campos, PSG’s football advisor, was in discussions with Messi’s representatives along with president Nasser al-Khelaifi.

After missing PSG's French Cup victory while on vacation in New York with colleague Achraf Hakimi, Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick for France in the World Cup final, may once more be rested for PSG's midweek match.

Neymar has been receiving treatment for the ankle injury he sustained while representing Brazil at the World Cup, and Italy midfielder Marco Verratti is out for PSG, who lost their last league game against Lens on New Year's Day, handing them their season's first loss.