Messi makes Ligue 1 debut as Mbappe shines for PSG

All 20,545 tickets available were sold at the Auguste Delaune stadium to see 34-year-old Messi play, and the fans, who chanted the Argentina forward's name, were rewarded in the 66th minute when he replaced the disappointing Neymar.

Paris St Germain's Lionel Messi with Idrissa Gueye.

Lionel Messi made his much-anticipated Ligue 1 debut for Paris St Germain on Sunday but it was Kylian Mbappe who shone as the capital club maintained its perfect start to the season with a 2-0 victory at Stade de Reims.

Mbappe gave PSG a taste of what it would be missing if he left for Real Madrid, who has made bids to recruit the France striker since Messi joined on a two-year deal from Barcelona.

PSG is top of the standings with a maximum 12 points.

All 20,545 tickets available were sold at the Auguste Delaune stadium to see 34-year-old Messi play, and the fans, who chanted the Argentina forward's name, were rewarded in the 66th minute when he replaced the disappointing Neymar.

AS IT HAPPENED: Ligue 1 HIGHLIGHTS Reims 0-2 PSG: Messi makes his PSG debut; Mbappe brace wins the game for PSG

Mbappe did not disappoint though in a brilliant performance, seemingly unfazed by the transfer frenzy surrounding him.

Two days before the end of the window, the 22-year-old made the difference with his speed and sense of timing, opening the scoring with a header and rounding off with a clinical finish.

After a stuttering start, PSG got into its groove and Mbappe put it ahead after 15 minutes by heading home from Angel Di Maria's cross.

PSG somehow got too comfortable and Reims started to apply some pressure, with Moreto Cassama's superb strike hitting Keylor Navas's crossbar three minutes before the break.

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Reims celebrated what it thought was a Marshall Munetsi equaliser five minutes into the second half, only for the Zimbabwean's effort to be ruled out for offside.

Messi started to warm up after 57 minutes, drawing applause from the Reims supporters, whom he saluted.

They sang his name just when he was about to come on, shortly after Mbappe had doubled PSG's advantage from Achraf Hakimi's cross at the end of a sharp counter-attack.

Mbappe combined with Messi, but the former Barcelona striker was not in the same condition as the Frenchman, having not played a competitive game since winning the Copa America with Argentina on July 10.