With the whole world looking on, Lionel Messi gave yet another masterclass: this time on losing graciously. Paris Saint-Germain completely bossed proceedings during the first half against Inter Miami CF at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with Luis Enrique’s charges deservedly racing into a 4-0 lead that appeared to have sealed the deal for the European champions in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ last 16 affair.
The Parisian juggernauts were up against the former Parc des Princes favourite, flanked by familiar allies who, despite years of dominating the global stage, found themselves on the receiving end of the kind of commanding performance they once routinely delivered.
Being the underdog after having enjoyed countless trophy triumphs is no easy task, but the talismanic Messi and his sidekicks exited the tournament with dignity. In the second half, the Herons held their own against the French powerhouses, even mustering a threat on Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal.
With competitive pride on full display against the Rouge et Bleu, Messi orchestrated a performance that showcased his enduring class. Just days after turning 38, he logged a full 90 minutes for the fourth time in the last fortnight, chasing a comeback that did not materialise, but nevertheless served up signature moments of finesse and technical mastery.
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Luis Enrique, who coached Messi at Barcelona between 2014 and 2017, was in little doubt as to the Inter Miami CF captain’s status: “He’s the greatest player of all time,” said the PSG coach. “He’s been at the very top of the game for ten to 15 years. With the ball at his feet, there’s no one quite like him. If we don’t manage to get the ball off them, it’s going to be an uphill task.”
Joao Neves, who stole the spotlight with a brace, fully expected Messi to shine: “He’s got incredible quality. If you afford him a bit of space, be it to play a pass or get a shot off, he’s dangerous.”
After enduring relentless PSG pressure in the opening 45 minutes, the Floridians managed to find their main man in more dangerous areas in the second period. “In the context of the match, I think Messi put in a great performance,” said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano in his post-match press conference. “After the break, we managed to get him on the ball a lot more, which we weren’t able to do in the first half because the pressure from PSG made it nearly impossible.”
When his team-mates picked Messi out in the attacking half, the No10 delivered. He threaded a pass that Luis Suarez struggled to control, troubled Donnarumma with a long-range shot and nearly scored with a thumping header that the Italian keeper saved thanks to his sharp reflexes. “Messi is an incredible player who was never going to make things easy for us,” said PSG’s Willian Pacho. “He made them tick and created some danger for us, but we handled it.”
Despite the defeat and subsequent exit from the tournament, Messi was the main attraction in this high-profile clash between the Supporters’ Shield winners from MLS and the reigning European champions. From the early hours of Sunday morning, fans poured to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, drawn by the Argentinian attacker, whose name adorned Argentina, Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami shirts as far as the eye could see.
Inside the impressive arena, 65,574 fans witnessed another masterclass by the GOAT and PSG, with the crowd roaring when Messi’s name was announced in the starting XI and on his every touch. “PSG are a very good side, they’ve won it all, but people still pay to watch Messi, even at 38,” said Mascherano after the match.
“We tried to slow the tempo, prevent them from scoring early and looked to catch them off guard from a set piece,” added Mascherano. “The plan was to try to get the ball to Messi and for him to up the tempo.”
And he did just that, seeking to leave his mark once again, but he found himself lacking a team-mate capable of matching his intensity. The Rosario-born schemer was visibly crestfallen at full-time, an image that captured his competitive and unquenchable spirit. The gulf in class was undeniable, a truth openly acknowledged by the USA side, but Messi stepped onto the pitch with the conviction of a man ready to etch another line in football history.
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“He doesn’t like losing in anything he does, obviously,” said Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari to FIFA. “He gets it, because he has been on the other side. Give it a couple of days and the disappointment will wear off. Messi is Messi, he has something special. He has the ball and the fans under his spell. I think all Argentines and Inter Miami fans, actually I think everyone, was expecting Messi to score.”
Even though Sunday’s showdown spelt the end of the road for the Herons at the global showpiece, they wrote their names into the Club World Cup history books. The MLS heavyweights headed into the bonanza far from favourites to take the crown, but they surprised the football world with their performance levels, defying the odds by beating Portuguese giants FC Porto – a feat that will go down in club folklore, along with hard-fought draws against Al Ahly FC and Palmeiras.
More than two decades after his professional debut, Messi closed his Club World Cup chapter on a positive note. In 12 months’ time, another opportunity awaits, again on US soil: the FIFA World Cup 26™. Argentina will be bidding to defend their crown, and the Albiceleste’s No10 shows no sign of letting up.
In the meantime, he will keep on working his magic on the pitch. His former Barcelona team-mate and current PSG wing wizard Ousmane Dembele took to social media after the final whistle to pay tribute to Messi in a fitting send-off in which the pair pose after having exchanged shirts: “Good to see you again, Leo Messi, the greatest of all time. I hope you continue to make history with Inter Miami, like you did at this Club World Cup.”
