Lionel Messi is poised for an exciting reunion with his former club Paris Saint-Germain as Inter Miami secured a spot in the knockout stage of the Club World Cup. Following a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Brazilian side Palmeiras, Miami managed to finish on five points, alongside Palmeiras, who clinched the top spot on goal difference. The thrilling match saw Miami’s Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez find the net, only for Palmeiras to respond with goals from Paulinho and Maurício in the closing minutes.
Palmeiras will now advance to face Botafogo in an all-Brazilian matchup in the round of 16. Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano expressed pride in his team’s performance, noting that they exceeded expectations by reaching this phase of the tournament. “I think it’s a historic night for MLS because we are into the best 16 teams in the world,” he stated, emphasizing the achievement for both Inter Miami and Major League Soccer.
Miami stands out as the only MLS team to move forward, following the elimination of other clubs such as the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC. PSG, meanwhile, reached the knockout stage with a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Sounders, thanks to goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi.
In a twist of fate, Messi, Suárez, and several other notable players from Miami will face their former coach Luis Enrique, who led them to a historic treble at Barcelona in 2015. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will also reunite with Enrique in what promises to be a compelling match. Alba acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating that while they respect the defending European champions, they aim to put forth their best effort on the field.
This matchup is particularly significant as it presents an opportunity for Miami to showcase its growth and determination against elite competition, representing hope for the future of soccer in MLS. The upcoming clash against PSG on Sunday is highly anticipated, as both teams aim to make their mark in the worldwide tournament.