Lionel Messi is about to face Paris Saint-Germain for the first time since leaving the French club. And honestly, the setting couldn’t be more fitting. In the Round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami’s number 10 will go up against the team that never truly got him. And if that wasn’t enough, standing across from him will be Luis Enrique, the coach who once lifted trophies by his side at Barcelona.
Messi left Paris without a word. His numbers were solid, but the applause never came. His time with the club and its fans was shaped more by doubt and disappointment than celebration. On the field, he produced goals and assists. Off it, he was never embraced the way he had been in Barcelona. Now, PSG and Inter Miami may be on different paths, but once again their stories cross, because soccer always brings the past back around.
Inter Miami arrives inconsistent, but with big names
Messi’s team isn’t coming into this match in top form. Inter Miami had its moments in the group stage, did what it had to, but never really impressed. They showed up when it counted, especially against Porto and Palmeiras, with Messi and Suárez taking the lead. Still, the team relies heavily on its veterans to spark something. That could either be their advantage or exactly where things fall apart.
Mascherano, now coaching, knows this group better than anyone. He shared the field with Messi, Suárez, Busquets and Jordi Alba. Together, they wrote part of Barcelona’s recent history. Now he’s trying to figure out a way forward in a tournament that demands more than just big names and old stories. If they want to stay alive, they’ll need to stay alert against a PSG that’s starting to show serious consistency, even if they’ve slipped along the way.
PSG wants to prove it’s a new chapter
PSG comes into this one as the favorite, but their recent history is a mix of strong performances and unexpected stumbles. They topped their group with authority, but not without sending a few warning signs. That loss to Botafogo was a reminder that cracks still exist. Even so, this is a different PSG. It’s more about the team now than any one superstar. A squad with focus, not just fame.
Luis Enrique has been key in that change. Since taking over, he’s shaped a game plan that doesn’t rely on one player to save the day. He’s rebuilt trust in the locker room and led the club to its first-ever Champions League title. That win lifted a huge weight off the club’s shoulders. Still, he knows this is no time to relax, especially not with so many familiar faces lining up against him.
A reunion that’s bigger than the game
Messi vs PSG would be headline enough. But add Luis Enrique into the picture, and the storyline goes way deeper. They went through it all at Barcelona, winning titles, dominating Europe, shaping a golden era. Their relationship had ups and downs, but it was always built on mutual respect and results. Now they’re on opposite sides. Luis Enrique leads a PSG that’s trying to write a new story. Messi is the face of a project that wants to prove the veterans still matter in today’s game.
And there’s more under the surface. That 6-1 comeback Barcelona pulled off against PSG back in 2017 still stings for the French club. Messi, Suárez, Busquets, Alba and Mascherano were all on the pitch that night. Luis Enrique was the man on the bench. Now, years later, they’re all back — not in the same colors, not in the same context, but carrying echoes of that night. The stage is different. The teams have changed. But the key players are back again, with history waiting at the door.