Lionel Messi has done just about everything on a football pitch. But on Sunday, he’ll check off one more box.
For the first time in his career, he’ll play against a former club — and it’s not just any club. It’s Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi and Inter Miami will face PSG in the Club World Cup Round of 16 in Atlanta. It’s a blockbuster matchup with all the ingredients: big stars, big money, and a bit of past drama.
Messi spent two seasons with the French champions before moving to Miami in 2023. That move came with some tension, and let’s just say he didn’t exactly leave croissants on the table.
The match is a reunion of sorts. Miami’s lineup is packed with former Barcelona names — Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and even coach Javier Mascherano.
PSG boss Luis Enrique, who coached all of them during their Camp Nou days, will now face his old crew in a high-stakes game.
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Inter Miami’s journey to this point has been far from smooth. Just weeks ago, they were stuck in a slump and fans were losing patience.
But since then, they’ve turned things around, booking a spot in the knockouts with impressive results, including a win over Porto.
They’ve already earned over $21 million in prize money. A win over PSG adds another $13 million — and a major boost to club history.
Why Lionel Messi never played against his former club before Club World Cup?
Surprisingly, Sunday will mark Messi’s first clash with a former employer. That’s partly because he only played for two clubs before joining Miami — Barcelona and PSG — and neither has crossed paths with him on the opposite side. Until now.
Messi’s time in Paris was rocky. From fan boos to awkward exits, the love story never clicked. “The move from Barcelona to Paris was somewhat difficult and complicated,” Messi once said.
His switch to Miami, however, was a fresh start: “It’s been much easier than we thought… I am very happy with the decision we made.”
There’s no doubt Messi will be fired up to face his old team. But teammate Alba insists, “Leo just wants to win games, like all great players.”
Still, football has a funny way of serving up poetic moments. And Messi, once again, finds himself center stage — with his past on the other side of the ball.
