Inter Miami stands as the only MLS team to reach the last 16 of the Club World Cup, facing Paris Saint-Germain this Sunday, the team Messi once played for.

Messi made headlines when he left PSG in 2023 to join Inter Miami, ending a two-year period marked by conflict and unmet expectations. Despite winning two Ligue 1 titles and the Trophee des Champions, the team’s failure to secure a Champions League title during Messi’s tenure overshadowed those achievements. In contrast, he triumphed with Argentina, defeating Kylian Mbappe in the World Cup final just before transitioning to the US.

As they meet in Atlanta, Messi’s history at PSG remains a compelling narrative, particularly since this matchup could be seen as one of the most intriguing in the knockout phase. Miami’s status as the sole non-European or South American team to progress from the group stage puts them in the underdog position against PSG, who recently celebrated their first Champions League victory.

Key Moments from Messi’s Time at PSG

• August 10, 2021: Messi’s transition to PSG followed a heartfelt farewell from Barcelona, where financial issues prevented his re-signing. He expressed enthusiasm for PSG, stating it aligned with his football aspirations, bolstering their status as a title contender with Neymar and Mbappe joining him.

• September 28, 2021: Scored his first Champions League goal with PSG in a match against Manchester City, assisted by Mbappe.

• March 9, 2022: Experienced a tough Champions League exit against Real Madrid, despite a promising start.

• March 8, 2022: PSG faced early elimination again, this time from Bayern Munich, marking another disappointing end to their Champions League ambitions during Messi’s tenure.

• April 8, 2023: Messi became the all-time leading goal scorer in European club history during a match against Nice, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo.

• June 3, 2023: Played his final match for PSG, amidst mixed reactions from fans as the team suffered a loss to Clermont.