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> 2025AtlantaSoccerFIFA Club World Cup

PSG vs. Inter Miami Preview: Messi faces his old team

Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or wizard, faces his former club for the first time since leaving PSG in 2023 as the freshly minted UEFA Champions League champs, square off against Inter Miami in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16. For Inter Miami, it’s a chance to etch their name in history as the first MLS team to make waves in this global tournament. For PSG, it’s another step toward world domination. This isn’t just a football match; it’s a cinematic showdown.

The Big Picture

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is a beast of a tournament, expanded to 32 teams and turning the US into a football carnival from June 14 to July 13. PSG earned their spot by steamrolling their way to the Champions League title, while Inter Miami clawed their way to the knockout stage with a mix of grit and star power.

The game kicks off at 12:00 PM EDT (18:00 CEST in Paris, 16:00 UTC for the global crowd) in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a 71,000-seat coliseum that’s no stranger to big moments. You can catch it free on DAZN worldwide, with TNT (English) and TUDN (Spanish) bringing the vibes to US screens. The FIFA Match Centre will keep you hooked with live updates and stats.

This match is dripping with storylines. Messi’s return to face PSG is personal—his two years in Paris were a rollercoaster of trophies and tension. Now, leading Inter Miami, he’s got a point to prove. For PSG, it’s about flexing their European muscle. For Miami, it’s about showing the MLS can hang with the elite. And with former Barcelona teammates and their old coach Luis Enrique in the mix, this feels like a family reunion with cleats and a grudge.

Messi’s Paris Past

Let’s rewind. From 2021 to 2023, Messi was PSG’s golden boy, piling up Ligue 1 titles but never quite clicking with the Parc des Princes crowd. The move from Barcelona to Paris was a culture shock—big expectations, bigger pressure, and a fanbase that wasn’t always feeling the love. When he swapped Paris for Miami in 2023, it was like he found his happy place. Now, at 38, he’s back to face the team that didn’t fully embrace him, and you better believe he’s ready to remind them what they’re missing. For Inter Miami, this is more than a game—it’s a chance to make history as the MLS’s first real global contenders.

Team News: Who’s Ready, Who’s Not

PSG are rolling into Atlanta with a squad that’s basically unfair. Luis Enrique has everyone available, give or take a question mark over Ousmane Dembele, who’s dealing with a pesky hamstring but might still suit up. The rest of the crew—Vitinha, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue—is locked and loaded, ready to unleash chaos.

Inter Miami, though? They’re limping a bit. Injuries have sidelined David Ruiz, Drake Callender, Gonzalo Lujan, Ian Fray, and Yannick Bright, which is a serious blow to their depth. But don’t count them out. The big guns—Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets—are fit and firing. Manager Javier Mascherano, another Barcelona legend, will lean on his star-studded attack to cover the defensive cracks. It’s a gamble, but with Messi pulling the strings, anything’s possible.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - OCTOBER 19 Inter Miami Forward Leo Messi (10) is lifted into the air by Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba (18) after Messi scored his second goal during the regular season match between Inter Miami CF vs New England Revolution on October 19, 2024 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
(Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Stars to Watch

This game is a talent showcase, and these players could flip the script.

PSG’s Big Dogs

  • Vitinha: The Portuguese midfielder is the engine room, a playmaker who can carve open defenses with a single pass. He’s been dropping dimes all tournament.
  • Kvicha Kvaratskhelia: The Georgian winger is a human highlight reel, with dribbling that leaves defenders dizzy. He’s the spark PSG’s attack needs.
  • Desire Doue: This 20-year-old forward is a rocket, blending speed and a nose for goal. He’s the kind of young gun who can steal the show.
Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain poses for a portrait during the official FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Portrait Session on June 12, 2025 in Irvine, California.
(Photo by Alex Pantling – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Inter Miami’s Heavyweights

  • Lionel Messi: The man, the myth, the legend. At 38, he’s still bending games to his will, whether it’s a pinpoint free-kick or a no-look pass. He’s one goal away from breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA Club World Cup scoring record (6 to Ronaldo’s 7), and facing his old team is all the motivation he needs.
  • Luis Suarez: The Uruguayan striker is still lethal, banging in goals and linking up with Messi like it’s their Barcelona heyday. His knack for big moments makes him a constant threat.
  • Sergio Busquets: The midfield anchor brings calm to the chaos. His ability to read the game and keep the ball moving is Miami’s secret weapon against PSG’s press.

The Barcelona connection runs deep. Messi, Suarez, Busquets, and Jordi Alba all played under Luis Enrique during their 2015 treble-winning season at Barca.

The Numbers Game

Let’s crunch some digits to set the scene.

TeamRecent Form (Last 6)Group StageHead-to-Head
PSGW-W-W-L-W (4W, 1L)Topped Group B, 6 ptsFirst meeting
Inter MiamiW-W-D-W-D (4W, 2D)2nd in Group A, 5 ptsFirst meeting
  • Recent Form: Inter Miami are unbeaten in their last six (four wins, two draws), proving they can hang tough. PSG have won four of their last five, with a lone loss to Botafogo in the group stage showing they’re not invincible.
  • Tournament Run: PSG topped Group B with six points, including a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders. Inter Miami grabbed second in Group A with five points, thanks to a 2-1 stunner over FC Porto and a 2-2 draw with Palmeiras.
  • Messi’s Chase: That one-goal gap to Ronaldo’s Club World Cup record is looming large. If Messi finds the net, he could claim another piece of history.

What to Expect on the Pitch

This is a classic David vs. Goliath setup, but don’t sleep on David. PSG are the total package—attacking flair, midfield control, and a defense anchored by Gianluigi Donnarumma that’s conceded just one goal in the group stage. Luis Enrique’s game plan will likely focus on possession and quick transitions, letting Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia stretch the game wide while Doue hunts for gaps.

Inter Miami, though, have a trump card: Messi. His ability to turn nothing into something—a flicked pass, a curled shot—makes them dangerous, even with a patched-up defense. Suarez’s poacher instincts and Busquets’s cool head give them a fighting chance, but they’ll need to be perfect to counter PSG’s firepower. Mascherano’s strategy will hinge on soaking up pressure and hitting on the break, trusting his old Barca buddies to produce magic.

 
 
 
 
 
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The emotional layer can’t be ignored. Enrique knows Messi, Suarez, Busquets, and Alba inside out—he coached them to glory in 2015. But familiarity cuts both ways. Miami’s veterans know how Enrique thinks, and they’ll look to exploit any cracks in PSG’s armor. The battle in midfield—Vitinha vs. Busquets—could decide who controls the tempo. If Miami can stay compact and avoid early mistakes, they might just catch PSG napping.


This game is bigger than the scoreline. For Messi, it’s a chance to settle old scores and show the world he’s still the king, even in MLS. For Inter Miami, it’s about proving the league’s growth isn’t just talk—beating PSG would be a statement heard round the globe. For PSG, it’s a chance to keep their trophy train rolling and remind everyone they’re the team to beat.

The Barcelona reunion adds a layer of nostalgia. Enrique, the architect of that 2015 treble, facing his former stars, is the kind of drama that makes football irresistible. Add in the MLS vs. Europe narrative, and you’ve got a match that’s as much about pride as it is about advancing to the quarterfinals.

 


As the clock ticks toward kickoff, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is ready to erupt. This isn’t just a Round of 16 match; it’s a spectacle, a legacy-defining moment, and a love letter to football’s endless capacity for drama. Will Messi weave his magic and lead Miami to an upset for the ages? Or will PSG’s star-studded machine roll on? One thing’s for sure: when the whistle blows on June 29, the world will be watching. Grab your seat, crank up the volume, and let’s see who writes the next chapter in this wild, beautiful game.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JUNE 23: Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF celebrates after Luis Suarez of Inter Miami CF scores a goal to make it 2-0 during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Internacional CF Miami and SE Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium on June 23, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

By Nicky Helfgott – NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter)

Keep up with all the latest football news and Club World Cup news on 365Scores!

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