(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Club World Cup: Messi’s Inter Miami Set for High-Stakes Clash with Former Club PSG
MIAMI, June 25 – Football fans are in for a treat as Inter Miami CF, led by Lionel Messi, are set to face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Club World Cup Round of 16, setting up a much-anticipated reunion between Messi and his former club.
Inter Miami secured their place in the knockout stage after a 2-2 draw with Palmeiras, finishing second in Group A. Goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez gave Miami a strong lead, but Palmeiras responded late in the match, equalizing through Paulinho and Mauricio to claim the top spot in the group.
A Familiar Face Awaits
The match against PSG will be a significant moment for several Miami stars, including Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, who will come up against PSG head coach Luis Enrique—their former manager during their time at Barcelona, where they won the treble in 2015.
“We know PSG well,” said Alba. “They are the champions of Europe, and their coach is someone I respect deeply. But once the game starts, we’ll compete. Anything can happen in football.”
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano, also a former Barcelona and Argentina teammate of Messi, praised the team’s achievement:
PSG Advance as Group Winners
Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning European champions, secured a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders to top Group B, with goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi. Despite a challenging pitch, coach Luis Enrique said the team adapted well to conditions in Seattle.
PSG’s top scorer Ousmane Dembélé did not feature in the match and has yet to appear in the tournament due to an injury.
Other Group Results
Elsewhere, Botafogo progressed to the knockout stage despite a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid. They now face Palmeiras in an all-Brazilian encounter.
In another dramatic fixture, Porto and Al Ahly played out a thrilling 4-4 draw, but both teams were eliminated after falling short in the group standings.
Upcoming Round of 16 Highlights:
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Inter Miami vs Paris Saint-Germain – Messi reunites with his former club
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Palmeiras vs Botafogo – Brazilian showdown with high stakes
Stay tuned for more updates as the Club World Cup 2025 heats up with world-class clashes and unforgettable moments.
