Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and their Inter Miami teammates are set to play one of the biggest matches of their five-year club history as they take on French giant Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup round of 16 on June 29. This sensational encounter marks the first time Messi has faced his former club since his exit from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 after two seasons.
In a battle that has been labelled by many fans as football’s ‘David vs Goliath’, Inter Miami will be an underdog against Paris Saint-Germain, winners of last month’s Champions League, where they delivered a trashing 5-0 defeat to Inter Milan. This game marks an uncharted territory for the World Cup champion, who has rarely in his decorated career entered a match as anything other than the favourite.
In another interesting turn of fate, Messi will also be facing his former Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique, who presently serves as the coach for PSG and has had an undeniable influence on Messi and several Inter Miami stars. Messi was coached by Enrique for three of his 17 record-breaking seasons with Barcelona. The Spanish coach led Barcelona from 2014 to 2017, winning nine titles, including two La Liga trophies, three from the Copa del Rey and one Champions League.
Messi, Suarez and Brazilian star Neymar played together under Enrique for arguably three of the club’s most memorable seasons, forming one of the most legendary trios in the history of the game. The “MSN” (Messi, Suarez and Neymar) trio tallied 364 goals and 173 assists for Barcelona. “He has been very important to my career,” Inter Miami striker Suarez said about Enrique, “what I learned from him and just being around him. I had a competitive DNA before I played for him, but he upgraded it even more.”
Miami’s Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets also played for Enrique. “I have said this many times, but Luis Enrique is the best coach in the world,” Inter Miami defender Alba said after Miami’s draw with Palmeiras on Monday, “not only just as a soccer coach, but also in the way he manages the whole group, which is spectacular. He is a phenomenon. We’ll meet him and hug him, but when the referee blows the opening whistle, we are going to try to beat him, which is what all of us here are trying to do.”
Messi’s fallout with PSG
Lionel Messi’s time at Paris Saint-Germain was not all smooth sailing. What started as a high-profile transfer gradually turned sour, marked by tensions over club decisions, fan backlash, and disagreements about training and travel commitments. The rift ultimately led to a strained relationship and Messi’s departure, closing a chapter that promised much but delivered mixed results. Lionel Messi’s strained relationship with Paris Saint-Germain was shaped by a series of frustrations that ultimately led to his exit in the summer of 2023. Chief among his grievances was the perception that teammate Kylian Mbappé received special treatment from the club, while Messi found himself under intense scrutiny from fans, particularly during his final months in Paris.
Messi had signed a two-year deal with PSG after leaving Barcelona, and while there were discussions of a possible contract renewal, tensions reached a breaking point in May 2023. The turning moment came with an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia, which led to disciplinary action by the club. Although Messi later apologised and returned to the squad, the relationship had already deteriorated beyond repair.
Since leaving, Messi has publicly reflected on his time at PSG with visible disappointment, calling it a “difficult” period in his career. Speaking to L’Équipe, a source close to Messi revealed that the Argentine star “did not have one good moment in Paris.” He reportedly struggled with the lifestyle changes, feeling isolated and unable to enjoy simple pleasures like taking his children to school or walking freely in the city. According to the source, he was caught between the ongoing Neymar-Mbappé rivalry, and felt that the club not only favoured Mbappé but also failed to properly acknowledge his 2022 World Cup victory with Argentina. The tension between Messi and the club became particularly visible toward the end of his tenure, when he was regularly booed by fans at the Parc des Princes. Now playing for Inter Miami, Messi is set to face his former club at the FIFA Club World Cup, adding a dramatic layer to what has already been a highly charged footballing saga.