LIONEL MESSI stood and smiled, looking transfixed as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans chanted the soccer great’s name — “Leo Messi, Leo Messi” — before Saturday’s 4-2 home win against Strasbourg in the French league.

PSG’s latest signing joined four other recruits presented on the field to some 49,000 fans at Parc des Princes before kickoff.

Messi was not in the actual squad for the game, which saw PSG coasting at 3-0 only to get pegged back to 3-2 until a late red card for Strasbourg eased the pressure.

Icardi scored after three minutes, Kylian Mbappe found the net with a heavily deflected shot leading to an own-goal, and Mbappe’s deflected cross allowed Germany midfielder Julian Draxler to make it 3-0 in the 27th minute.

Former PSG forward Kevin Gameiro headed home for the visitors in the 53rd. Imposing striker Ludovic Ajorque’s even better header midway through the second half pulled it back to 3-2, drawing some whistles from the home crowd.

But after Strasbourg defender Alexander Djiku was sent off in the 82nd, Mbappe set up winger Pablo Sarabia from close range for PSG’s fourth goal.

Messi watched it all from the stands alongside his new and former teammate Neymar, who won the Champions League alongside Messi at Barcelona in 2015. Messi only recently returned from an extended holiday after helping Argentina win the Copa America. Although Messi has started training with PSG, he is not yet match fit.

In a scene that few could have predicted, former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos applauded Messi — his eternal Barcelona nemesis and the all-time record scorer in “Clasicos” between Barcelona and Madrid — as he joined him on the podium.

Italy’s Euro 2020 star goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Netherlands captain Georginio Wijnaldum, and former Inter Milan right back Achraf Hakimi were all given loud ovations.

(SD-Agencies)