The One Trophy Lionel Messi Failed To Win At PSG: A Deep Dive Into The Coupe De France Exits

Despite his two-year tenure at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) yielding three major trophies, the definitive answer to the question "Did Lionel Messi win the Coupe de France?" is a resounding no. As of December 13, 2025, the French Cup remains the only major club trophy that the Argentine superstar failed to lift during his decorated career, marking a surprising gap in his otherwise unparalleled collection of silverware. His time in France saw the club suffer back-to-back, unexpected eliminations from the competition, both occurring at the Round of 16 stage.

The failure to secure the *Coupe de France* highlights a period of unexpected domestic struggle for the Parisian giants, even with the legendary trio of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé leading the line. This article provides a detailed examination of his two seasons in the French Cup, exploring the shocking defeats that denied him this title.

Lionel Messi's Profile and PSG Career Snapshot (2021-2023)

To understand the context of his French Cup run, it is essential to first review Lionel Messi's career profile, specifically his two seasons at the Parc des Princes.

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• Full Name: Lionel Andrés Messi
• Born: June 24, 1987 (Rosario, Argentina)
• Primary Position: Forward / Attacking Midfielder
• PSG Tenure: August 2021 – June 2023 (2 Seasons)
• Total PSG Appearances: 75 (All Competitions)
• Total PSG Goals/Assists: 32 Goals, 35 Assists
• Major Trophies Won at PSG:
  • Ligue 1 (2021–22)
  • Ligue 1 (2022–23)
  • Trophée des Champions (2022)
• Major Trophy Missed at PSG: Coupe de France
• Current Club (as of 2025): Inter Miami CF (MLS)

Messi's move to *Paris Saint-Germain* was one of the most seismic transfers in football history, creating a super-team expected to sweep all domestic honours, including the *French Cup*. However, the intense focus on winning the UEFA Champions League often overshadowed the domestic cup, leading to surprising results.

The 2021/2022 Season: The OGC Nice Penalty Heartbreak

The first season of the *Messi-Neymar-Mbappé* era under coach Mauricio Pochettino was marked by a dominant Ligue 1 title win but a significant early exit from the *Coupe de France*. This tournament, known for its "giant-killing" potential, proved to be an unexpected stumbling block for the star-studded squad.

The Shock Round of 16 Elimination

In the 2021/2022 edition of the French Cup, PSG's journey ended abruptly in the Round of 16 against OGC Nice.

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• Match: Paris Saint-Germain vs. OGC Nice
• Date: January 31, 2022
• Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
• Result: 0-0 (Nice won 6-5 on penalties)

The match at the *Parc des Princes* was a frustrating affair for the home side. Despite fielding a strong lineup, the game finished goalless after extra time. Lionel Messi played the entire 120 minutes, but the team could not find the breakthrough against a disciplined Nice side.

The tie was ultimately decided by a dramatic penalty shootout. Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bułka, who was on loan from PSG, became the hero, saving penalties from both Leandro Paredes and Xavi Simons. The penalty defeat sealed PSG's elimination, denying Messi a chance at his first *French Cup* trophy.

The 2022/2023 Season: Defeat in Le Classique

Messi's second and final season in France, 2022/2023, saw him lift the FIFA World Cup mid-season, but his club's domestic cup woes continued. Under new manager Christophe Galtier, there was renewed hope for a clean sweep of domestic titles, but the *Coupe de France* once again proved elusive.

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The Bitter Loss to Rivals Marseille

The 2023 Round of 16 draw pitted PSG against their fiercest rivals, Olympique de Marseille (OM), in *Le Classique*. This high-stakes matchup was played at Marseille's home ground, the *Stade Vélodrome*, adding an extra layer of intensity to the fixture.

• Match: Olympique de Marseille vs. Paris Saint-Germain
• Date: February 8, 2023
• Venue: Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
• Result: 2-1 to Marseille

Marseille took the lead through an Alexis Sánchez penalty, but Sergio Ramos equalized for PSG just before halftime. The decisive blow came in the second half when Ruslan Malinovskyi scored a stunning long-range goal for OM.

Lionel Messi played the full 90 minutes in the Round of 16 clash, but the team, which was without the injured Kylian Mbappé, failed to overcome the deficit. The 2-1 defeat to their arch-rivals was a particularly painful exit, marking the second consecutive year the club was knocked out at the Round of 16 stage of the French Cup.

Topical Authority: Why Messi's French Cup Failure Matters

The fact that Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player of all time, failed to win the *Coupe de France* is more than just a statistical anomaly; it is a significant detail in the narrative of his career and the history of PSG. This failure underscores several key topical points:

• The Unpredictability of the French Cup: The *Coupe de France* is a single-elimination tournament open to all French clubs, often leading to unpredictable results. The high-profile exits to Nice and Marseille demonstrate that even a squad with unprecedented talent like the one at PSG is not immune to a cup upset.
• The 'Missing' Trophy: The *French Cup* is often cited as the only major club trophy that eluded Messi's grasp, making it a unique point of discussion among football historians and fans. His career trophy haul is immense, but this domestic cup remains a notable exception.
• PSG's Champions League Focus: Both seasons saw PSG prioritise the Champions League, often leading to squad rotation in the *Coupe de France*. While this is common practice, the subsequent eliminations suggest the club's focus may have been too heavily tilted towards European success, resulting in a lack of consistency in the domestic cup competition.
• Le Classique Intensity: The 2023 defeat to Olympique de Marseille in the *Round of 16* was a massive psychological blow. Losing *Le Classique* in a knockout competition intensified the criticism surrounding the team's ability to perform in high-pressure, one-off matches.

In summary, while Lionel Messi secured two *Ligue 1* titles and the *Trophée des Champions* during his time in Paris, the *Coupe de France* remained the one domestic title that slipped away. His two appearances in the tournament ended in consecutive *Round of 16* eliminations, first by OGC Nice and then by Olympique de Marseille, solidifying the *French Cup* as the only major club honour he has never won.