Lionel Messi is poised to face his former club Paris Saint-Germain in a highly anticipated Club World Cup last-16 tie after guiding Inter Miami to qualification with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Palmeiras. The Brazilian champions mounted a late comeback to cancel out a two-goal lead by Miami, but both teams advanced to the next round, with Inter Miami finishing second in the group.
Tadeo Allende opened the scoring for the Major League Soccer side with a composed finish after a brilliant assist from Luis Suarez, who later doubled the lead with a vintage solo goal, dribbling past two defenders before smashing the ball into the top corner.
Messi, turning 38 this week, was instrumental throughout, linking play and testing Palmeiras’ goalkeeper Weverton with a series of threatening shots. The game looked to be heading for a Miami win until Paulinho and Mauricio struck in the final ten minutes to rescue a point for Palmeiras.
The draw set the stage for a blockbuster meeting between Inter Miami and European champions PSG, marking Messi's first encounter with his former club since his 2023 departure. Meanwhile, Palmeiras will face Brazilian rivals Botafogo in the last 16. The group stage result also confirmed the elimination of Al Ahly and Porto, despite their thrilling 4-4 draw in New Jersey.
With six Argentine players in their starting lineup, Inter Miami impressed in front of a largely pro-Brazilian crowd of over 60,000 at Hard Rock Stadium. Reflecting on the performance, coach Javier Mascherano described it as a landmark moment for the club and the league: “It’s a historic night for MLS. We played with heart and ambition, and now we’re among the 16 best teams in the world.”
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