Javier Mascherano Makes Major Lionel Messi Claim Ahead of Inter Miami-PSG Match | OneFootball

PSG punched their ticket to the knockout stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on Monday at Lumen Field. Up next, they’ll take on a familiar foe in Inter Miami, led by former PSG star Lionel Messi.

Inter Miami looked set to finish atop Group A after jumping out to a 2-0 lead against Palmeiras, but the Brazilian club rallied with two second-half goals to secure a draw and claim the top spot. That result dropped the South Florida side to second, setting up a clash with PSG in the next round.

Messi spent three years with PSG from 2021 to 2023 after his surprising departure from FC Barcelona. He joined a star-studded attack alongside Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé, but even with that trio, the team never got past the Round of 16, falling to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Will Lionel Messi play with a chip on his shoulder against PSG?

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Ahead of Sunday’s match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano stated that for his side, it would be ideal that the Argentine play with his emotions at the forefront.

“No, it’s clear that for us it’s better if he plays angry, because he’s one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort,” Mascherano told SportsCenter. “But well, I think that’s already in the past; it’s a different story now.

“Also, since it’s here in the United States, I don’t think the atmosphere will be the same. What we will try to do is play a great game because, to have any chance, we need to have a perfect match, and we will go for it.”

Messi’s time in Paris ended on a bitter note, with some PSG fans booing him and protesting his signing. He has also shared his honest thoughts about his stint in the French capital during an interview with Apple Music earlier this year.

“The way things turned out in my last years in Paris, even though I had to make a quick decision to leave Barcelona, I ended up spending two years that I didn’t enjoy,” Messi said. “I wasn’t happy day to day—whether it was training, matches, or just adapting to everything.”

Now, the two parties will meet in the knockout stage, and all the interviews of the player bashing the club will resurface. Furthermore, PSG fans will want a convincing win to have a final laugh over a player who didn’t want to be there in the first place.