Lionel Messi Snubs Barcelona, Names 7 Contenders To Win Champions League [Watch]

Lionel Messi has snubbed FC Barcelona on his list of seven contenders to win the Champions League this season. His picks include his new club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the struggling Manchester United.

RB Leipzig scored an injury-time goal to hold PSG at a 2-2 draw in their Group A meeting in the Champions League Wednesday. Gini Wijnaldum, who moved from Liverpool to PSG as a free agent this summer, scored the two goals for PSG. With two games to go in the group stage, the Ligue 1 side is placed second in the table and still holds a great chance to qualify for the last-16.

Messi, who has scored three goals in as many games for PSG in the Champions League this season, said winning the top European competition is his biggest target at PSG.

"I think it is my biggest target and the club's. They have been looking to win the Champions League and they have been very close. I think it is their main target," Messi told beIN SPORTS in an interview.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner went on to suggest that PSG are not the only contenders to win the coveted trophy this season as at least seven other rivals look strong, according to the decorated forward.

"We are one of the main candidates, but not the only one. Everyone is talking about PSG because of the players, but other clubs have been working together for years and have also signed good players, like Man United, Man City, Bayern, Liverpool, Atletico and Chelsea. There are plenty of clubs who can win the Champions League, it is a very difficult competition and the best team doesn't always win it. You need a lot of things to win it, everything is possible and we are one of the candidates, of course," Messi, who did not add his former club Barcelona to his list, said further.

After being associated with Barcelona for over two decades, Messi parted ways with the Camp Nou side this summer. Since then, the Catalans have been struggling to find the right combination on the pitch. After losing against Bayern Munich and Benfica, Barcelona turned tables around against Dynamo Kiev. In their first leg, Gerard Pique scored the winner before young Ansu Fati repeated it in the next leg.

Barcelona have not won the Champions League since lifting the trophy in 2014-15.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are at the top of Group A with nine points, while their Premier League rivals Liverpool have already progressed to the next round. Liverpool are unbeaten this season in the European competition and with their latest 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid, Jurgen Klopp’s side has already secured a place in the last-16.

German champions Bayern Munich, who won the Champions League in 2020, are already through, while five-time winners Barcelona will look to join them from Group E.