Inter Miami stands as potentially the only MLS team among the Club World Cup`s final 16. Having exceeded expectations in the group stage, their challenge intensifies as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain this Sunday, a club where Lionel Messi previously played.
Messi departed the French champions in 2023 for Miami, concluding a two-year phase in his club career often marked more by challenges and failure to meet expectations than resounding success. While he did secure two Ligue 1 titles and the Trophee des Champions during his relatively short tenure in Paris, the club`s failure to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy during the period featuring Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe remains a defining aspect of those two years. This club spell contrasted sharply with his triumphs on the international stage with Argentina, notably defeating Mbappe`s France in the World Cup final while still a PSG player.
The upcoming Round of 16 fixture in Atlanta on Sunday serves as a timely reminder of that chapter in Messi`s career, particularly as this encounter promises to be among the knockout phase`s most intriguing matchups. Inter Miami is anticipated to be the sole team from outside Europe or South America to progress beyond the group stage, positioning them as distinct underdogs against PSG, who recently claimed their maiden Champions League title just weeks prior. The narrative surrounding Messi facing a familiar opponent – now managed by his former Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique – is set to be the central theme leading up to the game and could potentially become a pivotal moment of the round.
Let`s review some of the significant events from Messi`s tenure at PSG.August 10, 2021: Messi Arrives at PSG
Just two days after an emotional departure from Barcelona due to the club`s financial constraints preventing his re-signing, Messi`s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain was made official. In the club`s announcement, he characterized PSG as aligning with his footballing aspirations, a move widely seen as a logical choice given his salary requirements and the considerable financial power of the club since Qatar Sports Investments acquired it in 2011. This transfer immediately positioned PSG, under the management of Mauricio Pochettino at the time, as a formidable contender for the Champions League, particularly with Neymar and Mbappe already part of what became one of the most formidable attacking lineups in recent football history.
September 28, 2021: First Champions League Goal for PSG
As PSG comfortably established their lead in Ligue 1 once more, they secured their initial Champions League victory of the season against Manchester City, a match that pitted Messi against his former Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola. He netted his debut goal for PSG in the tournament that day with a remarkable strike. In the 70th minute, Messi received the ball from Marco Verratti near the halfway line, surged towards City`s penalty area, located Mbappe at the edge of the box, and played a pass. Mbappe instantly returned it to Messi, who, now positioned just outside the area, unleashed a powerful shot into the goal.
March 9, 2022: Champions League Exit Against Real Madrid
Speaking of familiar adversaries, Messi`s PSG side finished second in their group, setting up a Round of 16 tie against Real Madrid. The two-legged fixture ultimately went against them – despite Messi missing a penalty in the first leg, PSG secured a 1-0 home win via Mbappe`s stoppage-time goal. Mbappe then extended their aggregate lead to 2-0 by scoring in the first half in Madrid. However, a rapid 17-minute hat-trick from Karim Benzema in the second half led to the premature elimination of the highly-touted PSG team from the tournament.
March 8, 2023: Bayern Munich Eliminate PSG from Champions League
Approximately one year after their previous Round of 16 exit from the Champions League, PSG experienced a similar fate. This time, they suffered a decisive 3-0 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich, under the guidance of manager Christophe Galtier. Excluding their run to the final in 2020 and their victory in the current season (implying the current season mentioned is the one where they won, after Messi left), the two seasons Messi was at PSG were the sole occasions they failed to reach the Champions League semifinals.
April 8, 2023: European Club Scoring Record Broken
While Messi later characterized his period at PSG as `difficult,` his time in the French capital wasn`t without positive moments. In a game against Nice in the spring of 2023, Messi established himself as the leading goalscorer in European club football, achieving his 702nd goal at that level and overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo`s record. Furthermore, with his contribution in PSG`s 2-0 victory that day, Messi also reached a remarkable milestone of 1,000 goal contributions in his club career.
June 3, 2023: Final Appearance for PSG
Forty-eight hours after manager Christophe Galtier publicly confirmed Messi`s impending departure, the World Cup champion made his last appearance for PSG at the Parc des Princes. The match proved eventful, though not entirely favorably for PSG – Messi faced jeers from some sections of the crowd, and the home team ultimately lost 3-2 to Clermont, despite an early two-goal contribution from Mbappe.
Dominic Ashworth