Lionel Messi is set to face his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, after his current side, Inter Miami, advanced to the last 16 of the Club World Cup. In a dramatic group stage finale, Inter Miami held Brazilian champions Palmeiras to a 2-2 draw at Hard Rock Stadium, securing progression for both teams into the knockout round.
The match saw Inter Miami take a commanding lead with goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez, putting them on course for a second consecutive upset after their earlier victory over Porto. Allende capitalised on a perfectly cushioned assist from Suárez in the 16th minute, calmly finishing past Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton. Suárez added a brilliant solo goal in the second half, dribbling past two defenders before blasting the ball into the top corner in the 65th minute.
Despite Miami’s strong performance, Palmeiras mounted a late comeback. Substitute Paulinho scored in the 80th minute, converting a well-weighted reverse pass from Allan Andrade. Just minutes later, a deflected header from Maxi Falcón fell to Mauricio, who rifled home the equaliser, ensuring Palmeiras also progressed.
Few expected Inter Miami to escape the group stage, especially in such convincing fashion. For Lionel Messi, who celebrates his 38th birthday this week, the upcoming tie against PSG will mark his first encounter with the French side since departing in 2023. The match, scheduled to be held in Atlanta, adds another compelling chapter to his already storied career.
Miami head coach Javier Mascherano hailed the result as a landmark moment for Major League Soccer. “It’s a historic night for the MLS because we are into the best 16 teams in the world, and all the MLS should be proud of Inter Miami,” he said post-match.
The contest was played before a crowd of over 60,000, with many vocal supporters of the Brazilian side in attendance. Palmeiras initially struggled, particularly in the first half, as Messi dropped deep to orchestrate play alongside Sergio Busquets and Federico Redondo. The Brazilian side’s first real opportunity didn’t come until late in the first half, with Facundo Torres dragging a promising shot wide.
In the second half, Messi had several close attempts, including a low shot saved by Weverton and a bouncing effort that sailed narrowly over the bar. Allende also came close to doubling his tally with a fast break that ended just wide of the far post.
Abel Ferreira, head coach of Palmeiras, admitted his team were off the pace early on. “I told them at half-time that it was impossible to do worse than what we did in the first half,” he said. “But our spirit of fighting until the end was particularly important in the second half, and we were rewarded for that.”
The outcome also saw Egyptian club Al Ahly and Portuguese side Porto eliminated, despite their thrilling 4-4 draw at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. With the group stage now complete, Inter Miami’s unlikely journey continues with one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament — Messi versus PSG.
