Mueez Ajao
– Paris Saint-Germain pair Lionel Messi and Neymar have been left out of Ligue 1’s end of season awards, despite helping the side to a record-equalling 10th league title.
– On Wednesday, the French players’ union (UNFP) announced its nominees for the 2021-22 awards, with the pair missing out alongside head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
– The Argentine coach is facing an uncertain future at the Parc des Princes, with an expectation that he will leave this summer.
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– Forward Kylian Mbappe was nominated for the Player of the Year award alongside AS Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder, Marseille’s Dimitri Payet, Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta and Stade Rennais’ Martin Terrier.
– PSG have lost just four times this season as they claimed the Ligue 1 title last month, the first of Pochettino’s coaching career, but it was largely overshadowed by a Champions League round-of-16 exit to Real Madrid.
– Messi has suffered a lacklustre maiden season in France, scoring four league goals in 23 games and registering 13 assists, while Neymar has scored 11 goals in Ligue 1.
– The pair have been jeered by the club’s fans in recent months, and Neymar took a swipe at his own supporters for walking out of the Parc des Princes as they drew 1-1 to Lens last month to clinch the title.
– “It was surreal that part of the crowd left the stands,” Neymar told ESPN Argentina. “They’re going to get tired of whistling, because I have another three years left on my contract.”
