Luis Enrique vs Lionel Messi: From Tension at Barca to Club World Cup Duel | OneFootball

The PSG coach and Inter Miami star reunite as rivals nearly a decade after their stormy Barcelona chapter

Luis Enrique vs Lionel Messi: From Tension at Barca to Club World Cup Duel

A long awaited encounter took place at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta as Paris Saint Germain faced Inter Miami in the Round of 16 of the 2025 fifa Club World cup. Achraf Hakimi's teammates won 4 - 0.

But beyond the tournament stakes, all eyes turned to Luis Enrique & Lionel Messi 2 figures who share rich history at Barcelona.

A bond built on glory and fierce rivalry

The duo enjoyed golden era at Barcelona ​​culminating in the club's historic sweep of 6 titles in 2015. But the road to this triumph wasn't always easy.

Their relationship nearly collapsed during the 2014 - 15 season as Enrique attempted to overhaul the club's internal structure taking bold steps that upset Messi.

Tensions reached peak when Messi returned late from the winter break, sparking heated debate during training. Enrique sat on the bench against Real Sociedad and considered disciplinary action before his veteran teammates intervened to ease the tension.

Despite the disagreements, the pair found common ground. The season ended with big celebration with Messi & Enrique embracing after winning the Champions league final. In 2017 Messi urged the coach to stay, testament to how their relationship has evolved.