Neymar and Lionel Messi on target as PSG thrash Nantes to win Trophee des Champions

Brazilian forward scores twice after Argentine's opener, with Sergio Ramos adding the fourth

PSG's Neymar, left, holds the trophy as he celebrate with his teammate Lionel Messi after winning the French Super Cup final soccer match between Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, July 31, 2022. PSG won 4-0. (AP Photo / Ariel Schalit)

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring PSG's first goal in the Trophee des Champions match against Nantes. AFP

Lionel Messi reacts after scoring the first goal of the match against Nantes. AFP

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring PSG's opening goal against Nantes. AP

Lionel Messi celebrates with teammate Neymar Jr after scoring the opening goal in the French Super Cup. EPA

Lionel Messi in action during the French Super Cup match between PSG and Nantes. EPA

PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma holds the trophy as he poses alongside Marquinhos and Neymar after winning the Trophee des Champions. AFP

Sergio Ramos and Neymar celebrate with teammates after winning the Trophee des Champions. AFP

PSG players celebrate winning the Trophee des Champions. Reuters

Neymar celebrates scoring PSG's fourth goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

Neymar on the ball during the Trophee des Champions match between PSG and Nantes. Reuters

Sergio Ramos celebrates with Neymar after scoring PSG's third goal in the Trophee des Champions. AFP

Neymar celebrates after scoring PSG's second goal against Nantes. AP

Neymar challenges for the ball with Nantes defender Jean-Charles Castelletto. AP

Neymar fights for the ball against Nantes defender Andrei Girotto. AFP

Sergio Ramos, Juan Bernat and Pablo Sarabia celebrate winning the Trophee des Champions. Reuters

Sergio Ramos backheels the ball to score PSG's third goal against Nantes. AFP

Sergio Ramos celebrates his goal and the third of the match during the Trophee des Champions. AFP

Sergio Ramos celebrates after scoring PSG's third goal against Nantes. Getty

Sergio Ramos and Persnel Kimpembe celebrate after Ramos scored PSG's third goal. Getty

Neymar said he hopes to stay at Paris Saint-Germain this season and help the club win more trophies after the Brazilian forward scored twice in the 4-0 victory over Nantes in the Trophee des Champions on Sunday.

Lionel Messi, who endured an underwhelming first season in French football, struck the opener on 22 minutes in the traditional curtain-raiser for French football, being played in Israel for the second year in a row.

Neymar, whose future at the club has been the source of much speculation this summer, doubled the lead just before the break with a magnificent free-kick.

Sergio Ramos added a third and Neymar bagged his second late on from the penalty spot as PSG, the reigning Ligue 1 champions, eased to victory over last season's French Cup winners in new manager Christophe Galtier's first match in charge.

"It was a good match. There was a trophy on the line so we wanted to win it," Neymar told Prime Video, drowning out rumours of his potential departure.

"If Kylian (Mbappe), Leo and myself are happy, PSG will do well," he added. "I hope this season all three of us will stay and it will go well."

It is the ninth time in 10 seasons PSG have lifted the Champions Trophy. They lost 1-0 to Lille at the same venue a year ago.

PSG begin their quest for a record 11th French league title away to Clermont on Saturday.

Galtier became PSG's seventh different manager since the Qatari takeover of 2011 when he was appointed on a two-year deal in early July as the replacement for Mauricio Pochettino.

The club won a protracted battle with Real Madrid in May to convince Mbappe to stay, but Galtier was without the France star for his first official match due to suspension.

Pablo Sarabia, on loan at Sporting Lisbon last term, took Mbappe's place in the attack alongside Messi and Neymar, while Portugal midfielder Vitinha made his debut following his arrival from Porto.

Achraf Hakimi forced Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont into an early stop and Sarabia went close before PSG captain Marquinhos headed against the crossbar.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, confirmed as PSG's first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Keylor Navas, turned away a Ludovic Blas effort, but Neymar and Messi soon combined to break the deadlock.

The Brazilian's deflected pass rolled kindly towards Messi and the Argentine nonchalantly rounded Lafont to apply the finishing touch.

Lafont denied Messi a second but was left powerless minutes later as Neymar whipped a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.

Nantes coach Antoine Kombouare got the better of Galtier in the French Cup final three months ago but found his former club in unforgiving mood here.

Ramos, who also endured a tough first year in Paris beset by injury, back-heeled home a third goal on 57 minutes after Lafont could only parry Sarabia's low cross.

France defender Nordi Mukiele came on in the closing stages for his PSG debut after arriving from RB Leipzig this week on a five-year deal.

And Neymar, having made no secret of his desire to remain at PSG, completed the rout with a penalty after Jean-Charles Castelletto was sent off for hauling him down inside the area.