WHO: Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami
That: FIFA Ronda Club World Cup of 16
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When: Sunday, June 30 at 12 pm (16:00 GMT)
How to continue: We will have all the accumulation in Al Jazeera Sport of the 9 am local (13:00 GMT) before our live text comments transmission.
The FIFA Club World Cup serves a gift in the 16 round when Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentine international striker joined the French giants, and now European champions for the first time, of the club that represented from childhood, Barcelona.
The coveted European success of PSG did not appear, and Messi went to new pastures with his 2023 movement to Major League Soccer.
Now, Messi faces a stripped PSG side of many of the galactics recruited to seal European glory, but full of youth exuberance and riding the crest of his wave of the Champions League.
Al Jazeera Sport analyzes the game more closely.
Why does Messi's Miami vs. psg have such weight?
When the PSG meets Inter Miami, it will mark a rare meeting of the greats of European football, all in layers of old loyalties, recent regrets and the possibility that Lionel Messi resolves a score.
Sunday's game presents a convincing contrast of times: a PSG team promoted by youth and the energy fresh out of its first title of the Champions League, and an Inter Miami team built around the former star of Barcelona aged but iconic.
In the PSG touch line, Luis Enrique faces face to face with four players who once led in Barcelona: Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
All are now gathered with the Miami coach, Javier Mascherano, another figure of Luis Enrique's triple winner in Camp Nou.
“Luis Enrique is a phenomenon,” said Alba this week. “I am excited to see it and give it a hug, but when the referee blows the opening whistle, we will try to beat it.”
Suarez, now 38, reflected on the impact of his former manager: “He already had a competitive DNA, but he further injected into me,” he said.
Does Barcelona's contingent have history with PSG?
In another layer of intrigue, Miami's contingent of the former players in Barcelona was part of “comeback” of 2017 against the PSG.
That was the darkest night of the PSG, when Barça hit them 6-1 in Spain after losing 4-0 in Paris in their last draw in the 16th Champions League.
It was then that Miami veterans were in full.
Now, they depend on memory and rhythm, while PSG's core has been restructured by a rising generation: Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Vitinha have helped to inject fresh energy into Luis Enrique's system, culminating in a triumph of the Champions League only a few weeks ago.
How did PSG go to the group stage?
The Parisian team arrives in Atlanta after a 1–0 defeat against Botafogo in Brazil in the group stage, which raised questions about fatigue after a long European season.
Although the PSG is still a great favorite on paper, that defeat showed cracks in a team that has played more high -risk games than most of its rivals.
PSG took his group with victories in his opening games against Atlético de Madrid and Seattle Sounders.
How did Inter Miami go in the group stage?
Inter Miami ended second in its group behind Palmeiras with a victory and two draws in its name.
The 2-1 victory inspired by Messi against Porto was crucial for its progress.
Can the Argentine axis of Miami knock down the PSG?
“It will be an honor for me to face a great coach, one of the best I've had in my career,” said Luis Enrique Mascherano.
Now in his first important role of club training, Mascherano brings an emotional advantage and tactical sharpness to one side of Miami that, although physically limited by age, can still threaten, especially with Messi in shape.
The great Argentina endured a turbulent two -year period at the PSG after leaving Barcelona in 2021. Although he won domestic cutlery, Messi never found peace in Paris and, after his victory in the World Cup in 2022, some fans turned against him.
“I didn't enjoy PSG,” Messi told journalists earlier this year. “It was a difficult period.”
Mascherano believes that memory still drives him.
“When something stayed in his mind, Messi gives a little more,” he said this week.
What went so bad for Messi on PSG?
PSG had reached the final of the Champions League and then semifinals in both seasons before the arrival of Messi, so it seemed the final piece in the puzzle.
Instead, they went backwards with him, leaving the Elite Club of Europe competition in the last 16 consecutive years.
Having to fit in Messi, with its estimated annual salary of 30 million euros ($ 35.2 million) after taxes, as well as Neymar and Mbappe, the Star appeal may have increased, but weakened them as a team.
Towards the end, the Legend of Barcelona was even being mocked by some sections of the PSG support that felt that Messi's commitment to the cause was not what he should have been.
Messi was a PSG player when he inspired Argentina to the glory of the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022, but there were only flashes of his genius at the club level in France.
Their statistics resist any scrutiny, with 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances, and won two links of Ligue 1 while helping to increase the value of PSG as a brand.
Miami coach Javier Mascherano, meanwhile, believes that the unhappy memory of his time in Paris could stimulate Messi.
“It is clear that for us it is better if he plays angry, because he is one of those players who, when he has something in mind, gives an extra effort,” Mascherano told ESPN.
How did PSG last season?
Inter Milan's impressive 5-0 demolition in Munich at the end of last month, which allowed them to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time, completed an incredible winning season of acute for the team backed by Qatar under the training of Luis Enrique.
How was Inter Miami last season?
Miami ended as the club with the largest number of points in the regular Major League Soccer (MLS) season, giving them a place in the club's World Cup instead of the Galaxy, who won the MLS Cup, which is considered the highest award in the MLS.
FIFA announced the incorporation of Miami into the Club World Cup in October after they broke the regular MLS seasonal record with a 6-2 victory over the New England revolution to reach 74 points, one better than the previous record established by New England in 2021.
PSG team news
Ousmane Dembele has just resumed the training after overcoming an injury to the hamstrings, but it is possible that it is not even sufficiently shape for the bank.
Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola are competing to start with the desire of Doue and Khvicha Kvarathskhelia. The young Senny Mayulu was selected for the match against Seattle in the role of Dembele.
Inter Miami team news
Jordi Alba has returned from an injury and will challenge the young Noah Allen for the left side position.
Drake Callender, Gonzalo Lujan and Yannick Bright are still marginalized. Veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari will continue to deputy for the first.
PSG Predict Initial alignment:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Kvarathskhelia, Ramos, Doue
Inter Miami predicted the initial alignment:
Ustari; Weigandt, Aviles, Falcon, Allen; Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suárez
PSG form guide (all competitions):
Wwwlw
Inter Miami form guide (all competitions):
Wwdwd
