Messi, 35, was the lynchpin of the Argentina side that won the World Cup in Qatar nine days ago, scoring twice in the final against France which finished in a penalty shoot-out victory.
He then returned to Argentina with his teammates to celebrate their third World Cup triumph. “Leo had a very big World Cup with his victory,” said Galtier on the eve of PSG’s meeting with Strasbourg as Ligue 1 kicks off again today after the World Cup break.
“He had to return to Argentina for the celebrations and we decided that he was going to be off until January 1.
“He will come and join us either on the second or third (January) to pick up the season with us. He will have had between 13 and 14 days of recovery.”
Messi looks likely to miss two Ligue 1 matches and the French Cup match at Chateauroux, possibly making his return at home against Angers on January 11.
PSG’s other World Cup players, notably Kylian Mbappe and Neymar “will be available for the match tomorrow”, said Galtier.
Mbappe could even start, having returned to training just three days after the disappointment of losing the World Cup final, in spite of his hat-trick. “We made sure to manage on a case-by-case basis,” said Galtier. “After talking with him, Kylian wanted to join us fairly quickly.”
Mbappe, Messi, Hakimi and Nicolas Tagliafico were just four of the 14 Ligue 1 players - from eight different clubs - who reached the semi-finals in Qatar.
Neymar, whose Brazil crashed out to Croatia in the quarter-finals, was back on Thursday with compatriot Marquinhos, with both expected to play a role in today’s game at the Parc des Princes. PSG are currently five points clear of second-placed Lens who they meet in Flanders on Sunday. Lens, meanwhile, will look to keep up the pressure on PSG going into that game when they head down to Nice tomorrow. Third-placed Rennes have Croatia’s Lovro Majer and on-loan Wales defender Joe Rodon back from action in Qatar as they head to Reims tomorrow.
“For me, it’s a second season that’s starting up again, with the same uncertainties, the same unknowns before a first league match of the season,” said Rennes manager Bruno Genesio. “We’ll see which teams have best managed this.”
Marseille, who are just one point behind in fourth, host a Toulouse side that is bumping around in mid-table.
Argentina’s World Cup winner Nicolas Tagliafico has also been enjoying his moment in the sun and will be absent for Lyon’s trip to Brest. “Tagliafico has become world champion and I take the opportunity to congratulate him,” said Lyon coach Laurent Blanc who took charge in October when Peter Bosz was sacked after a five-match winless run.
“He is due to return on January 1 and he is getting married on the 28th. He has a lot to celebrate at the moment.
“I hope he will come back in good shape. To be a world champion is not nothing. May he come back quickly.”
Lyon are currently eighth in the table, 10 points away from the Champions League places, prompting Blanc to insist that they will need to be busy in the January transfer window if they are to compete.
“We have to improve the team,” he said.
FIXTURES
Today (1400 GMT unless stated)Ajaccio v Angers, Troyes v Nantes, Auxerre v Monaco (1600), Clermont v Lille (1800), Brest v Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain v Strasbourg (both 2000)
Tomorrow (2000 GMT unless stated)
Lorient v Montpellier (1600), Reims v Rennes (1800), Marseille v Toulouse, Nice v Lens