LIONEL MESSI PSGGetty Images

Messi to play with GOAT on his sleeve as PSG announce new partnership

Lionel Messi is set to play with the word GOAT on his sleeve alongside the rest of the Paris Saint-Germain squad as the club have announced a new multi-year partnership with the next generation lifestyle platform.

GOAT have linked up with PSG as an official partner until the end of the season and, from July 1 onwards, will have their brand name stamped on the sleeves of training, warm-up and matchday jerseys.

The online platform, which offers luxury apparel and accessories via primary and resale markets, has over 30 million members across the globe and will now benefit from even more exposure after inking a deal with the Ligue 1 giants.

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What has been said?

Messi has modelled the new design next to Neymar, Marco Verratti, Georginio Wijnaldum and Achraf Hakimi, with Kylian Mbappe a notable absentee amid ongoing reports linking him with a transfer to Real Madrid.

PSG's chief partnerships officer, Marc Armstrong, has said of the union: "We are delighted to welcome GOAT into the Paris Saint-Germain family. Thanks to this partnership, GOAT joins the tight list of club partners present on our emblematic jerseys.

"GOAT is the ideal partner for the club. It reinforces our position as an icon of sport and style with fans around the world. Together, we will develop exciting and creative experiences to delight fans everywhere."

Eddy Lu, co-founder and CEO of the GOAT group, has added: "Paris Saint-Germain is one of the most influential clubs in the world and we are delighted to partner with them to continue building our global community.

"We bring together two great lifestyle brands to unite and mobilize communities of athletes, creatives and fans around the world. This partnership plays to each other's strengths, with innovative collaborations in the months and years to come."

Why is Messi called the GOAT?

GOAT stands for 'greatest of all time' in football circles, an unofficial moniker that has been given to Messi in light of his outstanding achievements in the game.

On social media, it has become a theme for supporters to post goat emojis when mentioning the PSG star, who has a record seven Ballons d'Or to his name and is the all-time record scorer for both Barcelona and the Argentina national team.

Messi won numerous La Liga and Champions League titles during his 17-year stay at Camp Nou, which ended when his contract expired last summer, and is on course to add a Ligue 1 crown to his collection this season.

The 34-year-old has recorded eight goals and 13 assists since joining PSG on a free transfer, and will now have his nickname printed on his sleeve for the final year of his contract in 2022-23.

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