Watch: Lionel Messi's Reaction To Being Subbed Off By PSG Coach Mauricio Pochettino Goes Viral

Lionel Messi produced a fine performance in the first half against Lyon but was subbed off by PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino 14 minutes from time.

Lionel Messi made his home debut for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night, producing a solid performance in the first half of the match against Lyon at the Parc des Princes. However, the Argentine, who joined PSG from Spanish giants Barcelona to much fanfare, was subbed off by PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino 14 minutes from time. The interaction between Messi and the coach on the touchline has since generated a lot of buzz on social media. While many reports claimed that Messi ignored Pochettino's outstretched hand while walking back to the bench, replays, however, showed that he did shake his hands.

Fans on Twitter were in meltdown after witnessing the happenings in Paris with Messi's reaction becoming a major talking point on social media.

Messi to Pochettino: I don’t care. I have already told the Board to sack you next week.

Kwame Benaiah

@kwamebenaiah

An unhappy Messi? Is Pochettino ready for the heat?

JUJAMAICAN 

@naya_biggie

PSG wins a penalty against OL ..but Pochettino gives it to Neymar while Messi has not scored yet .then moves forward to substitute hi

BeksFCB

@Joshua_Ubeku

This man removed Messi. Pochettino won't last at PSG. This is the craziest decision ever!

José Henrique #LM7

@josephsn_7

Messi was the best player on the pitch, and Pochettino chose to sub him out. Absolutely ridiculous.

Parker × M9 

@RobertonicaI

It turns out Pochettino is not aware that the last manager who took off Messi couldn't keep his job for more than a month

Messi was replaced by another new signing in Achraf Hakimi with the scores tied at 1-1. But it was Messi's Mauro Icardi who came up with the winner in stoppage time as PSG edged Lyon 2-1.

The win helped PSG register their sixth win in six matches in the French Ligue this season, taking the team five points clear of Marseille at the top of the table.

After the match, Pochettino defended his decision to take off Messi.

"Everyone knows we have great players, a squad of 35. It is my decision. We can only have 11 players on the field at one time," Pochettino said.

"I only think about the best decision in each game, for each player, just as every coach does.

"We are here to make decisions. Sometimes people will be happy with them, sometimes they won't be."

The former Tottenham manager also dismissed any suggestion that the former Barcelona man was unhappy, saying: "I asked him how he was and he said he was fine."