For the first time in his entire career, Lionel Messi will line up against one of his former clubs as his MLS side Inter Miami takes on Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday in Atlanta.
Messi spent two "unhappy" years at PSG by his own description, a short spell which followed his illustrious time at Barcelona and predated his move to the United States.
Now, he will play against the French side coming off its first-ever UEFA Champions League title, having accomplished the long-awaited feat without his guidance.
PSG will be considered the overwhelming favorites not only for this match but also for the entire competition proper. Hoping to have their Ballon d'Or candidate back for the knockout stage, a deep Club World Cup run would be icing on their delicious 2024/25 cake.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.
PSG vs. Inter Miami confirmed lineups, team news
Star forward Ousmane Dembele continues to train alone and it's unclear when he will return to action for PSG. He has yet to appear in the Club World Cup after suffering a thigh injury. Bradley Barcola sat out the first match due to knee discomfort but has returned to serve as a bench option and starts here.
Luis Enrique hardly rotated his side at all in the group finale against Seattle Sounders, and Dembele is the only member of the Champions League final XI who isn't present and correct here.
PSG starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Donnarumma (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Marquinhos, 51. Pacho, 25. Mendes — 87. Neves, 17. Vitinha, 8. F. Ruiz — 14. Doue, 29. Barcola, 7. Kvaratskhelia.
Injured: Dembele (thigh, doubt).
Suspended: None.
On a yellow card: Neves, F. Ruiz, Marquinhos.
Full PSG squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Lucas Lavallee, Matvei Safonov, Arnau Tenas
Defenders: Lucas Beraldo, Naoufel El Hannach, Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Hernandez, Noham Kamara, Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Yoram Zague
Midfielders: Lee Kang-in, Senny Mayulu, Gabriel Moscardo, Joao Neves Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Warren Zaire-Emery
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ibrahim Mbaye, Goncalo Ramos
While Inter Miami have built their team around Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the rest of the attack has been overhauled around them. New signings Taedo Allende and Telasco Segovia have exploded to life this tournament on the wings, while MLS veteran Fafa Picault is a plus bench option having rejoined the side after playing internationally for Haiti before the Club World Cup began.
Starting goalkeeper Drake Callender has been dealing with a hernia for months and is unlikely to participate in this competition at all after having surgery. Backup Oscar Ustari recovered from a precautionary exit from a late May MLS game and will continue in goal after starring in the team's first two matches.
Jordi Alba returned after missing the opener with a hamstring injury, but has only been fit enough for the bench in the final two group games. He's back in here, completing the ex-Barcelona quartet alongside Sergio Busquets.
hamstring complaints, while David Ruiz and Yannick Bright are questionable having trained alone of late.
Inter Miami starting lineup (4-4-2, right to left): 19. Ustari (GK) — 57. Weigandt, 37. Falcon, 32. Allen, 18. Alba — 21. Allende, 55. Redondo, 5. Busquets, 8. Segovia — 10. Messi, 9. Suarez
Injured: Ruiz (hamstring, doubt), Bright (hamstring, doubt), Lujan (hamstring), Callender (hernia).
Suspended: None.
On a yellow card: Aviles, Messi, Redondo, Busquets, Suarez.
Full Inter Miami squad
Goalkeepers: Drake Callender, Oscar Ustari, Rocco Rios Novo, William Yarbrough.
Defenders: Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Tomas Aviles, Israel Boatwright, Max Falcon, Ian Fray, Tyler Hall, Gonzalo Lujan, David Martinez, Marcelo Weigandt.
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Yannick Bright, Benjamin Cremaschi, Santiago Morales, Federico Redondo, Baltasar Rodriguez, David Ruiz.
Forwards: Leo Afonso, Tadeo Allande, Lionel Messi, Allen Obando, Fabrice Picault, Luis Suarez.
PSG vs. Inter Miami score prediction
Inter Miami are the only MLS side to reach the Club World Cup knockouts and one of just two CONCACAF teams left in the field. They have an enormously uphill battle in this match, as they will be out-classesd in all areas of the match.
The Herons have admittedly impressed to this point, hanging tough and competing with teams possessing far greater talent. Yet this feels like a step too far, asking for them to secure a knockout result against the reigning Champions League winners.
Messi may get his moment against a former club, if he can figure out a way past the red-hot Nuno Mendes, but it will be a mountain too steep to ask his team to secure a place in the quarterfinals.
Prediction: PSG 3-1 Inter Miami
How to watch PSG vs. Inter Miami: Live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Club World Cup Round of 16 match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Sun, Jun. 29 | 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT | TNT, truTV, TUDN, Univision | Fubo USA, DAZN |
| Canada | Sun, Jun. 29 | 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT | — | DAZN |
| UK | Sun, Jun. 29 | 5 p.m. BST | Channel 5 | DAZN |
| Australia | Mon, Jun. 30 | 4 a.m. AEST | — | DAZN, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now |
| India | Sun, Jun. 29 | 9:30 p.m. IST | — | DAZN |