Messi vs PSG. Club World Cup. Knockout round. Atlanta.
If that doesn’t scream drama, nothing will.
The draw is in and PSG will face Inter Miami in the Round of 16 of the Club World Cup this Sunday, June 29 at 6 PM (local time) in Atlanta. Yes, you read that right. It’s Messi versus PSG. Set your reminders, because this is no ordinary match.
After cruising past Seattle 2-0, the Parisians now face a glamorous but tricky opponent.
Inter Miami isn’t just another MLS side anymore. With Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba in the lineup, there’s an unmistakable Barça vibe. The club is coached by Javier Mascherano and run by David Beckham, both former PSG players. The storylines are writing themselves faster than a tabloid on deadline.
Inter Miami reached the knockouts after a chaotic 2-2 draw with Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium. The Brazilian side clawed back from two goals down to secure the point they needed. Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez got the goals for Miami, following up their shock win over Porto. That was enough to punch their ticket to Atlanta.
But don’t let the warm handshakes and nostalgia fool you.
This isn’t just a reunion. It’s a revenge match.
Since leaving PSG in 2023, Messi hasn’t exactly sent them postcards. The Argentine maestro has openly criticized the lack of recognition he received at the club and highlighted a strained relationship with fans that never truly embraced him.
On the flip side, PSG have flourished since parting ways with their superstar trio. After years of chasing the dream with Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe, the Parisians finally lifted their first ever Champions League trophy last season, the one thing they brought those stars in to win. The irony writes itself. It was only after the three left that the trophy finally landed in Paris.
As PSG prepare for this high-voltage encounter, some players clearly have their motivation dialed up.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made his feelings crystal clear:
“I spent two great years at PSG with him, playing alongside the greatest. But now, I hope we win he’s already won everything.”
The stakes are sky-high. A place in the quarter-finals is on the line. The atmosphere is bound to be electric. And with so much history packed into one fixture, Atlanta is about to feel a lot hotter.
Brace yourselves. Messi vs PSG is not just football. It’s theatre.
Also Read- Atletico Madrid Win 1-0 Against Botafogo But Fail To Advance To Club World Cup Knockouts
