- Lionel Messi has never failed to make it out of the group stage in any tournament throughout his career, and that continued at the Club World Cup.
- Messi has Inter Miami in second place in Group A, although two late goals conceded cost the team first place.
- Inter Miami will meet Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16, and Messi spent two seasons in France with the Ligue 1 champs.
A team led by Lionel Messi has never crashed out in the group stage of a tournament. That record is still intact for, arguably, the greatest soccer player ever.
Inter Miami has reached the Round of 16 at the Club World Cup, but two late goals from Palmeiras took first place from the Major League Soccer club. Now, Inter Miami will face one of Messi’s former teams, the Champions League winners from Paris Saint-Germain.
Inter Miami Through to the Knockout Stage, But Will They Regret Giving Up Late Goals?
Throughout his glittering 22-year career, Messi has always progressed out of the group stage in a tournament. This is from his time at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Argentina.
Messi just turned 38 years old today on June 24, but he continues to inspire his team. Inter Miami weren’t given much of a chance at the Club World Cup. However, they’ll finish in second place in Group A. Messi has done his part with a goal, and it was a trademark free kick in Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over Porto.
Inter Miami could have topped Group A as well, as they had a 2-0 lead over Palmeiras with ten minutes remaining in their match. However, Miami’s defensive issues reared their head, and the Brazilian club scored twice in a seven-minute span to tie the game 2-2. Due to a one-goal advantage in goal difference, Palmeiras took top spot in the group. It surely felt good for Palmeiras, which is from Brazil, the bitter rivals of Messi’s Argentina team.
Instead of facing Brazilian team Botafogo in the Round of 16, Messi’s Miami has a much more daunting task: Paris Saint-Germain, which just won the Champions League.
Can Inter Miami Beat PSG at the Club World Cup?
Club World Cup odds have PSG as a considerable favorite in this clash, and you can find the Champions League winners as low as -500 at soccer betting sites! They’re just coming off a stunning Champions League run in which PSG thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. They topped Group B with two wins and a loss, beating Atlético Madrid 4-0 and Seattle Sounders 2-0, but PSG lost 1-0 to Botofogo.
It’ll be a reunion for Messi, who spent his last two European years in Paris. He won Ligue 1 twice with PSG, as well as the Trophee des Champions in 2022. However, he couldn’t lead PSG to the Champions League, which he won four times with Barcelona.
Messi will be familiar with some PSG players, but more familiar with manager Luis Enrique, whose last year playing at Barcelona was the year before Messi was promoted to the senior team in 2004.
Enrique was also the manager of Barcelona B from May 2008 to 2001, and the senior team from May 2014 to May 2017. Enrique will know Messi, as well as Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. They all played for Enrique, winning La Liga twice, and the Champions League once.
Inter Miami are definitely up against it, and you might not find them among many Club World Cup best bets on Sunday, June 29. You can find them around +1100, and as high as +1400! However, they have Lionel Messi, which means Inter Miami always has a chance, even against the best team in Europe!
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