Soccer-Messi scores on return as PSG extend Ligue 1 lead

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Angers - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - January 11, 2023 Paris St Germain's Lionel Messi in action REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

PARIS (Reuters) -Lionel Messi celebrated his return to competition after the World Cup by scoring a second-half goal as Paris St Germain extended their Ligue 1 lead to six points with a 2-0 home win over Angers on Wednesday.

Messi, who won the World Cup with Argentina, received a warm welcome from the Parc des Princes crowd and netted from close range in the 72nd minute to add to Hugo Ekitike's first-half opener, putting PSG on 47 points from 18 games.