Sports
Messi Set For Blockbuster Club World Cup Reunion with PSG
Johannesburg football fans are in for a treat as the FIFA Club World Cup serves up a sizzling knockout clash between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and his former club, European heavy weights Paris Saint-Germain.
This highly anticipated last-16 matchup isn’t just a meeting of two football powerhouses – it’s a collision of past and present, with echoes of Messi’s European legacy coming face to face with his bold American chapter.
From Camp Nou to Club World Cup
When Messi left PSG for the palm trees of Miami in 2023, few imagined he’d be back on a global stage facing the very team he once represented. But football has a poetic way of closing circles. Now, the Argentine icon leads an MLS team packed with former Barcelona teammates like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, all guided by ex-Blaugrana stalwart Javier Mascherano.
Their next test? PSG, the reigning champions of Europe, and a familiar figure on the touchline — Luis Enrique, who famously coached Messi and his Miami teammates to the 2015 treble at Barcelona.
“I will connect with good friends there,” said Alba. “But once the whistle blows, we’ll give everything. Why can’t we beat them? This is football.”
Inter Miami Defy the Odds
Inter Miami’s Club World Cup journey has already surprised the world. They stunned Porto in their opening match and looked set for another win after goals from Tadeo Allende and Suarez put them 2-0 up against Palmeiras at the Hard Rock Stadium. But the Brazilian side clawed back with two late strikes to top the group, leaving Miami to qualify in second.
They’ll first face Botafogo — who scraped through despite losing to Atletico Madrid — before a potential reunion with PSG if both teams win.
Mascherano didn’t hold back on what it meant for the league: “It’s a historic night for MLS. To be among the best 16 clubs in the world is a moment for the entire league to be proud of.”
PSG Steady the Ship
After a shaky start with a shock loss to Botafogo, PSG got back to business. Goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi who played key roles in their UEFA Champions League winning match sealed a controlled 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders on a tough American pitch to send them through as Group B winners.
Coach Luis Enrique acknowledged the challenge: “We had to adapt. The pitch wasn’t what we’re used to, but we did what we needed to.” Top scorer Ousmane Dembele sat out again with an injury, but the team showed enough firepower to worry any opponent — even one led by Messi.
Atletico Out, Drama All Around
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid’s narrow 1-0 win over Botafogo wasn’t enough to save them, despite Antoine Griezmann’s late winner. They needed a two-goal margin and left the tournament fuming at missed penalty decisions.
“Six points and we’re out. It’s frustrating,” said Diego Simeone. His son, Giuliano, didn’t mince words either: “We should have had two penalties. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Meanwhile, Porto and Al Ahly were sent packing after a chaotic 4-4 draw, highlighting just how unpredictable this year’s expanded Club World Cup has become.
Why It Matters for Joburg Fans
Whether you’re watching from a Braamfontein sports bar or catching highlights on your lunch break, this match-up is something special. It’s not often that an American club with South American flair challenges Europe’s elite — and it’s even rarer that Messi is right at the centre of it.
From Soweto to Sandton, local fans who’ve followed Messi’s career from La Liga to Ligue 1 are buzzing about the potential fireworks in this clash. Social media is already lighting up with predictions, throwback clips, and debates about who will come out on top.
One thing’s for sure: football’s biggest names are writing a new chapter, and the whole world — Joburg included — will be watching.
Source:Bein Sports
Read More: Top Coaches Applaud Club World Cup’s Global Stage: “It’s a Privilege to Be Here”
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