Lionel Messi is set for an emotional clash against his former club Paris Saint-Germain as Inter Miami prepare for a blockbuster round-of-16 tie at the FIFA Club World Cup. The Herons drew 2-2 with Palmeiras at a packed Hard Rock Stadium, securing second place in Group A and a spot in the knockout stages. Despite throwing away a 2-0 lead late in the match, Inter Miami’s unbeaten group run was enough to keep their dream alive.
Luis Suarez and Tadeo Allende found the net for Miami, but a resilient Palmeiras side struck back through Paulinho and Mauricio in the dying minutes. The result handed Palmeiras top spot in the group, while Miami’s five-point haul earned them second place. It marks a historic moment for Inter Miami, who became the first MLS side since 2005 to avoid defeat against a CONMEBOL opponent in a major tournament.
Now, all eyes turn to Messi’s upcoming showdown with PSG — the club he left in 2023. The game, to be held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday, will be Messi’s first-ever competitive match against the French giants. PSG topped Group B thanks to a superior goal difference after a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders, finishing ahead of Botafogo and Atletico Madrid, who all ended level on points.
Messi’s transition to Inter Miami has been seamless. Since joining from PSG, he has tallied 50 goals and 24 assists in 62 appearances, including 16 goals and six assists in just 23 games this year alone. His time in Paris may not have been fondly remembered by the Argentine, but his numbers were impressive — 32 goals and 35 assists across 75 matches, along with two Ligue 1 titles.
Crucially, Messi continues to uphold his unique tournament record: he has never been eliminated in the group stage of any competition in his 21-year career — a perfect 33-for-33 progression rate. As the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner gears up to face familiar faces in PSG colours, the stage is set for one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament — a defining test in Messi’s Inter Miami chapter.