Messi’s produces a spectacular performance as Paris St-Germain overcame Toulouse thanks to a superb Lionel Messi goal, putting them eight points ahead in Ligue 1.
After 20 minutes, a free kick from Branco van den Boomen gave mid-table Toulouse a startling advantage in Paris.
Before the interval, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi pulled them even, then Messi skillfully curled in from 25 yards.
PSG now has 54 points after 22 games, eight more than second-placed Marseille.
Due to injuries, PSG was without Kylian Mbappe and Neymar and unexpectedly fell behind thanks to a set piece by Dutch midfielder Van den Boomen.
Before Messi took center stage just before the hour mark with a left-footed bending first-time strike low into the corner of the net, Hakimi tied the score at 1-1 with a curling effort.
It was Messi’s 15th goal overall and 10th in Ligue 1 this year.
Second-placed in Ligue 1 Marseille will play Nice on Sunday before hosting PSG in the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France the following week.
Mbappe will miss both those contests after being out for three weeks with a thigh injury sustained in the 3-1 victory over Montpellier last Wednesday. He will also miss the opening leg of the Champions League last-16 match against Bayern Munich on February 14.
