Lionel Messi Can't Score Goals Because Of 'One' PSG Star, Says Ex-Barcelona Striker

Lionel Messi has not worked his magic yet at Paris Saint-Germain, and one of his former Barcelona teammates may have known exactly why.

Since leaving Barcelona for PSG this past summer, Messi has yet to score a single goal in Ligue 1.

Cynics were quick to assume that he is not competent enough for French football, while some simply think that he and PSG’s talisman Kylian Mbappe just don’t get along well on the pitch.

Analyzing the Argentine’s situation with the Parisians, former Barcelona striker and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry reckoned that PSG’s current attacking strategy doesn’t complement Messi’s game.

"He [Messi] is isolated, he is on the ball less," Henry recently told RMC Sport via Marca. "I wouldn't say he's sad, but he's isolated. I prefer him through the middle. I'm having trouble with Leo out on the right. In the middle, he can set the tempo. Something needs to be found in order to get [Kylian] Mbappe, Neymar and Messi to play together."

"I don't think he can make the difference on the right [wing], but then I don't have the exact details from the tactical standpoint," he added. “Obviously when you stay high up and you get out of the way, you won't have an impact. Then you have fewer balls going towards him."

Henry played three seasons alongside Messi at Barcelona. During the said stint, he got to see what type of person the six-time Ballon d’Or winner is outside the pitch.

This has prompted Henry to refute rumors claiming Messi’s decline has a lot to do with him not seeing his PSG teammates eye-to-eye.

Instead, the two-time English Premier League player of the year insisted that it’s all because the team’s offense is focused on Mbappe.

"Messi doesn't speak a lot, he speaks with the ball," the 44-year-old stressed. "For now, it's Kylian's team. Kylian is the one who's making it shine most of all. The ball goes more towards him.”

"At any single moment there can only be one conductor, otherwise you can't play at the same tempo. And in this team, there are too many conductors."

Indeed, the newly-formed attacking trident of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar has become a hot subject of discussions.

In his attempt to put an end to speculations, Mbappe previously bared that it is “very easy" to get along with Messi on the pitch as one only has to learn how to "share."

"When you play up with top players like that, you have to share the cake so that all three can eat," Mbappe said of playing with Messi earlier this month.

"It's very easy to play with Messi, really. He really understands football, always knows what to do. If he has to dribble past everyone and score a goal, he'll do it. If he has to play with one touch, he'll do it. He's one of the best, if not the best."