Argentine football legend Lionel Messi is set for a dramatic reunion with former club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as Inter Miami take on the reigning European champions in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday in Atlanta.
Messi will be joined by former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez, all of whom played under PSG’s current manager, Luis Enrique, during their time at the Catalan club. The quartet famously featured in Barcelona’s stunning comeback against PSG in the 2016–2017 UEFA Champions League Round of 16, overturning a 4–0 first-leg deficit with an emphatic 6–1 win at the Camp Nou.
Inter Miami secured their place in the knockout stage as runners-up in Group A, following a 2–2 draw with Brazilian side Palmeiras on Monday. Veteran striker Suarez, 38, proved he remains a threat on the big stage, netting Miami’s second goal in the draw.
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Speaking after the match, Suarez, who was named Man of the Match, acknowledged the challenge ahead:
“If we make these mistakes against PSG, we will pay a heavy price. In tournaments like this, there’s always a favourite, and PSG are certainly that,” he said.
“We’re up against the European champions and we’ll need to be clinical. Luis Enrique has seen so many players and he influenced me a great deal. I already had a competitive DNA, but he made me even more competitive.”
PSG, now a transformed side under Enrique, are enjoying a stellar season, having lifted their first-ever UEFA Champions League title earlier in the year. But Messi and his Inter Miami teammates will be looking to cause another memorable upset against the French giants.
Their clash promises a compelling narrative not only a rematch of past European drama but also a test of ageing brilliance versus current dominance on the world stage.
