5 PSG players who could ease the burden on Lionel Messi this season (2021-22)

#3 Marco Verratti

Marco Verratti has been at PSG for close to a decade.

Marco Verratti, who was part of Italy's triumphant Euro 2020 campaign, has been at PSG for close to a decade.

Regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the game, the 28-year-old sizzled for Italy at the quadrennial tournament, and will look to continue that form in the 2021-22 season for PSG.

21 – Marco Verratti (#ITA) in the first half v Belgium:21 passes successful in the final third (23 attempted, more than any other player)6 duels won (highest tally in the game)2 chances created (1 assist)Concerto. #BELITA #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/QrNTAbD36g

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 2, 2021

Still only 28, the diminutive midfielder has made close to 350 appearances in all competitions for PSG, scoring just nine times but dishing out 58 assists.

If the seven-time Ligue 1 winner rediscovers his mojo, it would allow PSG's high-profile summer arrivals like Messi to settle down before delivering the goods up front.

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#2 Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe

Who better to take the pressure off Lionel Messi at PSG than someone up front, like Kylian Mbappe, regarded as one of the best young players in the game at the moment.

The French star may have had an underwhelming outing at Euro 2020, not producing a goal contribution and missing the decisive penalty in the Round-of-16 penalty-shootout exit against Switzerland. But Mbappe had a dazzling 2020-21 campaign for PSG.

He scored a career-best 42 goals in all competitions as the Ligue 1 giants lost out on the league by a point and were ousted in the Champions League semi-finals by Manchester City.

40 - Kylian Mbappé scored his 40th goal for Paris in 2020/21 in all competitions (26 in Ligue 1), his best tally in a single season. Unstoppable. #PSGSDR pic.twitter.com/Uae9kwVsdJ

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 16, 2021

Still only 22, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has racked up almost 200 goal contributions (133 goals, 63 assists) in just 174 games for PSG. Mbappe has already hit the ground running in 2021-22, scoring once and assisting twice in his first league game of the season.

Despite rumors regarding his exit, Mbappe is all set to stay put at the club and strike up a riveting partnership with Neymar and Messi this season.

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#1 Neymar

Neymar

Neymar reportedly played a key role in bringing Lionel Messi to PSG. So the Brazilian, about to commence his fifth season with the Ligue 1 giants, is expected to play a pivotal role in making his good friend feel at home in his new surroundings.

Earlier at Barcelona, Neymar struck up a prolific partnership with Luis Suarez and Messi up front, winning two league titles and a continental treble, and scoring lots of goals.

Although Suarez is not there at PSG, Messi and Neymar, along with Mbappe, are expected to score goals galore and help the Ligue 1 giants finally conquer the Champions League frontier.

Messi, who is yet to debut for PSG, is expected to replicate his Barcelona exploits, as Ligue 1 is considered an 'easier' league than La Liga.

Neymar could help Messi make a seamless transition, as he shares an excellent relationship with the Argentinian, both on and off the field.