Messi Shows Class Despite Heavy Club World Cup Loss | OneFootball

Messi’s Club World Cup Exit Raises Questions About His Future

Inter Miami outclassed by PSG in Messi’s latest global outing

Lionel Messi’s presence on the pitch still captures the imagination, even at 38. Yet as Inter Miami were dismantled 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup, the spectacle felt like more than just a football match—it felt like the closing act of a global chapter.

Facing his former club for the first time in an extraordinary 1,109-game career, Messi struggled to lift his MLS side against a PSG team operating at peak intensity. Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami’s manager and former Argentina teammate, summed it up plainly:“PSG are in great form, champions of everything, but people still pay for a ticket to see Leo Messi, even at 38 years old.”

Moments of magic still linger

Despite the scoreline, Messi offered reminders of why he remains football’s most compelling figure. His intelligent movement, spatial awareness, and deft touches—including a sublime cushioned pass to Luis Suarez—added brief flickers of hope to an otherwise one-sided affair.

“That’s the touch of the tournament from Lionel Messi,” said pundit Don Hutchison. “The weight of pass to knock it over the defender with perfect weight and precision – it’s a shame Suarez couldn’t finish the move off because that was genius from Messi.”

He also had chances of his own—a header saved, a shot blocked, and a trademark free-kick that cannoned into the wall late in the second half. For a moment, 65,574 fans in Atlanta held their breath as he stood over the ball, desperate for a spark of old brilliance.

Ex-Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi, watching for Dazn, described it perfectly:“He’s so clever, he walks around the pitch but when the ball touches his feet he just goes. He’s like a player from a different planet.”

Eyes on 2026, but clarity is elusive

Messi’s contract with Inter Miami runs until the end of 2025, but speculation over his future is already gathering pace. The 2026 World Cup, to be hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico, remains a tantalising prospect, but no firm commitment has been made.

Luis Suarez and Nicolas Otamendi believe their friend will carry on for another year, perhaps to bow out on home soil—figuratively speaking—in the US. But those close to the player insist nothing is yet decided.

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who wrote Messi’s authorised biography, recently shared:“At the moment he is just taking it game by game, tournament by tournament. If he renews and stays in America, he’ll evaluate the situation when he needs to, but for the time being he is just taking things step by step.”

Legacy already cemented—but what’s next?

For PSG, who have seemingly flourished since Messi’s departure, the win marked another step in their post-Galáctico era. Their treble-winning campaign now includes a Club World Cup final—achieved without the trio of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé.

Meanwhile, Messi’s record speaks volumes. Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals. Argentina’s greatest with 112. Inter Miami’s leading marksman with 50. He finally lifted the World Cup in 2022, completing his extraordinary collection.

But time waits for no one. And while Messi’s ability to impact games remains evident, even subtle, the physical toll is increasingly visible. His second-half performance in Atlanta highlighted that: sharper, more involved—but also a reflection of PSG easing off after a dominant first 45 minutes.

“I think Leo played a great game, within the options we had,” Mascherano reflected. “In the second half, we found him much more. In the first half, we couldn’t due to Paris’s pressure.”

If this was his final performance on a truly global stage, it was fittingly poignant. Not a farewell drenched in glory, but one etched with flashes of genius that reminded us why he has enthralled the world for two decades.

Come 2029, when the next Club World Cup is due, Messi will be 42. It feels almost certain we won’t see him there. But with Messi, nothing is truly predictable—only that when the ball’s at his feet, anything still feels possible.