Lionel Messi still struggling to cope with supporters' criticism

Even though Lionel Messi is about to play in his second World Cup final and is enjoying his best times in Paris with PSG, he is still struggling to cope with the Paris Saint-Germain ultras and their criticism.

Messi, who arrived in Paris more than a year ago, is reportedly not entirely happy in the French capital for one and just one reason: the whistles he often receives from the Collectif Ultras Paris supporters group.

That information has been revealed by L'Equipe, with the French newspaper saying that even though Messi's relationship with the media and the supporters of PSG "has evolved," the Argentina international "did not like certain criticism" he received in the past, considering them "a little exaggerated."

Messi is seemingly mad at the comments and critics he received after getting eliminated from last year's Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid. "The elimination against Real Madrid left a mark (on Messi)," states L'Equipe.

L'Equipe says that since being wildly whistled in the first game at the Parc des Princes following PSG's elimination from the UCL, "Messi has not forgotten that Sunday." Even more, L'Equipe says that Messi "will need time to forgive (the CUP supporters)."

Lionel Messi is playing his best football in Paris this season but he's still struggling to cope with the supporters' criticism

If you have been paying even minimal attention to PSG of late, then you must know Messi's contract with the French club runs out next June. That has both parties in very different, yet tense between them, positions.

Messi can start to negotiate a deal with any club he pleases on Jan. 1st, the same day PSG travel to face RC Lens away from home in Ligue 1 competition. Of course, that list of organizations could (will) include the likes of Inter Miami and Barcelona.

PSG, on the other hand, will be scrambling to meet face-to-face with the Argentine genius to try to work out a contract extension ahead of next summer, keeping him in the capital for at least one more year.

The latest reports paint a bright and hopeful picture for PSG, though, with them informing about the French club having the advantage in the negotiations with Messi at this point in time.

That said, Messi is an otherworldly talent about to play (and, most probably, win) in the World Final with all that entails and means to his career.

Could Messi win the World Cup once and for all and think about that as the defining moment of his long-tenured career, leaving PSG and moving on to play in the MLS? Could Messi lose it, get moody-mad, and exit PSG on bad terms as soon as he has a chance?

A lot of questions remain about Messi's and PSG's future. The former is in no hurry to solve them. The latter, though, must start working quickly if they don't want this situation to tailspin.