In what will go down as a Lionel Messi derby, the Argentinian superstar’s ex-employee, Paris Saint-Germain, faces his current team, Inter Miami, for a blockbuster clash in the Round of 16 stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The winner will have the tantalising scenario of facing either Brazilian giants Flamengo or Bundesliga holders Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
PSG vs MIA Match Details
Date: Sunday, 29 June 2025
Time: 12:00 (EDT) / 21:30 (IST)
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
PSG vs MIA Match Preview
It was never a doubt that UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain would progress into the Round of 16. Still, a rare setback for them in losing to Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo, after starting the competition with a 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid, meant they had to wait for the final group game against Seattle Sounders to know their fate. The MLS side, having a mountain to climb to do an improbable job, lost 2-0 to the Parisians with goals from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi compounding their misery. However, the Rave Green gave Luis Enrique’s men a lot of trouble with their low block and springing counter-attacks, which will remain a concern as they head to the knockouts, facing an identical style-playing but star-studded MLS side, Inter Miami, which has a certain Lionel Messi in store. PSG finished top of their group after Botafogo lost to Atletico, the latter faced elimination from the competition, collecting six points from three games while scoring six goals and conceding just once. An excellent record for the Ligue 1 giants, who will now want to show their ex-star the force they have become without big names, clinching a historic treble last season. PSG are the favourites to win this competition as well and have the upper hand in the tie, so they will not want any more upset that would derail their chances. Especially not against a team that has arguably the best player on the planet, with whom they failed to reach the desired heights.
The Argentinian genius has witnessed his ex-club’s stride to European success without him, Neymar and even their record goal-scorer, Kylian Mbappé and was visibly frustrated at the full-time whistle when Inter Miami squandered a healthy 2-0 lead in the final 10 minutes of the final group game to draw with Palmerias, albeit both making their way into the last-16 stage. Not many gave Javier Mascherano’s side much of a chance to make it to the knockouts, mainly due to their shaky defence, but they managed to achieve the remarkable feat and silenced their doubters. After a thrilling battle with Al Ahly in the curtain raiser, which unfortunately ended 0-0, the Herons became the first MLS side to beat a European team in FC Porto, courtesy of a magical Messi free-kick and looked set to clinch the top spot of Group A on Tuesday with Tadeo Allende scoring the opener with Luis Suarez rolling back the years to add a second. However, failing to beat the Brazilian outfit means they had to settle for the second spot in their group and were unable to avoid a clash with the European winners in the next round. The 38-year-old will now have to face the team he spent two forgettable seasons with, managed by a coach under whom he won his final Champions League honour while at Barcelona. This will be a huge battle for the last remaining USA-based team in the competition, hoping for another Messi-magic against his old side to maintain their six-game unbeaten streak, even though hopes of progression are slim.
PSG vs MIA Recent Form (all competitions)
PSG: WWWLW
MIA: WWDWD
PSG vs MIA Recent Form (CWC 2025)
PSG: WLW
MIA: DWD
PSG vs MIA Predicted Lineups
PSG
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Ramos, Kvaratskhelia
Inter Miami
Ustari; Weigandt, Aviles, Falcon, Allen; Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suarez
PSG vs MIA Dream11 Match Prediction
Despite the Messi factor, this will be too big of a task for Inter Miami to topple a side like PSG, having more reasons to display an ‘A’ game after not being convincing in the previous two games. The opposition’s deep block might cause issues, but the Parisians should get the job done even though they are still reeling from the loss of injured star man Ousmane Dembele. The Herons have already exceeded expectations by reaching this stage and that will be a medal they are happy to wear, even though Lionel Messi’s reunion doesn’t look to be a happy one. We predict a 3-1 win for Luis Enrique’s men, who will progress to the quarterfinals.
PSG vs MIA Dream11 Team Top picks
Captain Pick: Kvicha Kvaratskhelia
Vice-captain Picks: Vitinha, Lionel Messi
Others: Desire Doue, Luis Suarez
Our top pick for the Dream11 Team is Kvicha Kvaratskhelia with one goal and two assists in the Club World Cup group stages.
Desire Doue has scored 15 goals and delivered 14 assists in 57 games last season, although he has yet to open his account in the Club World Cup.
Lionel Messi has scored six goals against PSG in ten matches during his career, while his strike partner, Luis Suarez, has four.
PSG vs MIA Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Ustari (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 173)
DEF: Hakimi (Cr - 9, Pts - 205), Falcon (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 84), Mendes (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 109)
MID: Allende (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 98), Vitinha (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 187), Ruiz (Cr - 8, Pts - 109), Kvaratskhelia (Cr - 9, Pts - 178)
FW: Doue (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 98), Suarez (Cr - 9, Pts -135), Messi (Cr - 9, Pts - 124)
Vice-captain: Vitinha
Captain: Kvicha Kvaratskhelia
