Messi Set for PSG Reunion as Inter Miami Advance to Club World Cup Last 16

Lionel Messi Set for PSG Reunion as Inter Miami Advance to Club World Cup Last 16

Lionel Messi is set for a high-profile reunion with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, after helping Inter Miami reach the last 16 of the Club World Cup following a thrilling 2-2 draw against Palmeiras.

The Brazilian side staged a dramatic comeback from two goals down at Hard Rock Stadium, with the result securing both teams a place in the knockout stage.

Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez had put Miami on track for a second surprise win of the tournament—following their earlier victory over Porto—but Palmeiras struck twice in the final 10 minutes through Paulinho and Mauricio to clinch a vital point.

Inter Miami’s progress was unexpected, with few anticipating they would escape the group stage. They now face European champions PSG, while Palmeiras will take on domestic rivals Botafogo in an all-Brazilian clash.

For Messi, who turns 38 on Tuesday, the upcoming tie in Atlanta marks his first encounter with PSG since leaving the French club to join Miami in 2023.

“It’s a historic night for MLS. We’re among the best 16 teams in the world, and all of MLS should be proud of Inter Miami,” said Miami head coach Javier Mascherano.

Elsewhere, a wildly entertaining 4-4 draw between Egypt’s Al Ahly and Portugal’s Porto at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey ended in heartbreak for both sides, who were eliminated from the tournament.

A total of six Argentines were in Miami’s starting lineup, which faced a strong Brazilian crowd presence among the 60,914 fans in attendance.

Palmeiras nearly opened the scoring early when Gustavo Gomez powered a header from a corner, but Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari made a sharp save.

Miami struck first in the 16th minute. Suárez chested down a long ball perfectly into the path of the onrushing Allende, who used his pace to burst past the Brazilian defense and calmly slotted past Weverton.

‘Great Game’

Palmeiras’ cautious tactics—allowing Miami time on the ball—proved ineffective. Messi dropped deep to link play, combining fluidly with Sergio Busquets and Federico Redondo, as the MLS side dominated possession.

Palmeiras’ only real chance of the first half came when Facundo Torres latched onto a loose ball after a defensive error, only to drag his shot wide.

Messi had his first attempt on goal four minutes into the second half, curling a low shot from the edge of the box that Weverton did well to stop.

Allende looked dangerous again when he cut in from the right and sent a shot just wide, while Messi volleyed a bouncing ball narrowly over the bar as Miami hunted a second.

It finally came in the 65th minute, with the 38-year-old Suárez rolling back the years—gliding past two defenders before rifling the ball into the top corner.

A win would have guaranteed Miami top spot in the group and avoided a meeting with PSG, but Palmeiras’ late surge changed everything.

Paulinho pulled one back in the 80th minute after a clever reverse pass from Allan Andrade split the defense.

Then, with just three minutes remaining, Maxi Falcón’s headed effort deflected into the path of Mauricio, who smashed it into the far corner to level the score at 2-2.

“It was a great game from us. It’s tough playing against one of the best teams in South America,” Mascherano said. “Maybe we had the win in our hands, so the feeling is a bit mixed. But before the tournament, if someone told me we’d play like this against teams of this level, I’d have taken it.”

Palmeiras head coach Abel Ferreira was critical of his team’s poor first-half showing but praised their response.

“I told them at halftime that it was impossible to play worse than we did in the first half. We didn’t press, we didn’t contain our opponents. But our fighting spirit in the second half made all the difference, and we were rewarded for it,” Ferreira said.

— AFP

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