Inter Miami vs. PSG: How to Watch and Messi’s Memorable Moments in Paris

Inter Miami may be the only MLS team to reach the Club World Cup Round of 16, but after exceeding expectations in the group stage, things won`t get any easier. On Sunday, they will face Lionel Messi`s former team – Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi left the French champions in 2023 to join Miami. His two-year spell at the club was marked more by friction and setbacks than achievements. Although he won two Ligue 1 titles and the Trophee des Champions, the team`s inability to win the UEFA Champions League during the era of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe remains a defining legacy of those two years. This pales in comparison to his success with the Argentina national team, where he defeated Mbappe in the World Cup final shortly before his departure from PSG.

Sunday`s Round of 16 match in Atlanta serves as a fresh reminder of that period in Messi`s club career. This might be the most unique clash at this stage: Miami is expected to be the only non-European or South American team to advance from the group, making them clear underdogs against PSG, who finally clinched the Champions League title just a few weeks ago. The confrontation between Messi and a familiar opponent – coached by his former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique – will undoubtedly be the dominant storyline leading up to the match and could very well be a defining moment of the Round of 16.

How to Watch Paris Saint-Germain vs. Inter Miami, Odds

• Date: Sunday, June 29 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
• Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, Georgia
• TV: TNT | Live stream: Watch on DAZN
• Odds: Paris Saint-Germain -600; Draw +600; Inter Miami +1200

Key Moments from Messi`s Time at PSG

August 10, 2021: Messi Joins PSG

Two days after a tearful farewell to Barcelona, Messi officially became a Paris Saint-Germain player. He described the club as one that “matches my football ambitions.” The move seemed the most logical, considering Messi`s wage demands and PSG`s financial power. With Neymar and Mbappe already there, PSG instantly became a top contender for the Champions League title.

September 28, 2021: Messi`s First Champions League Goal

While PSG was comfortably leading in Ligue 1, they secured their first Champions League victory of the season against Manchester City, facing his former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. That day, he scored his first goal for PSG in the competition in brilliant fashion. In the 70th minute, Messi received the ball, ran almost the entire length of City`s half, spotted Mbappe, and passed to him. With one touch, Mbappe returned the ball to Messi, who was on the edge of the penalty area, and from there the Argentine powerfully struck it into the net.

March 9, 2022: PSG Defeated by Real Madrid in Champions League

Messi`s PSG finished second in their group and were drawn against Real Madrid in the Round of 16. The series went poorly for Paris – although Messi missed a penalty in the first leg, PSG led 1-0 at home thanks to Mbappe`s injury-time goal, and the French player scored in the first half in Madrid, extending PSG`s aggregate lead to 2-0. However, Karim Benzema`s rapid 17-minute hat-trick resulted in the star-studded PSG being eliminated from the tournament much earlier than anticipated.

March 8, 2023: Bayern Munich Knocks PSG Out of Champions League

Almost exactly a year after the previous elimination, PSG repeated the same result. This time it was a convincing defeat to Bayern Munich, with PSG – then coached by Christophe Galtier – losing 3-0 on aggregate over two legs. Following PSG`s run to the final in 2020 and their eventual win this year, the two seasons with Messi were the only times they failed to reach the Champions League semifinals.

April 8, 2023: Messi Breaks European Club Scoring Record

Although Messi later called his time at PSG “difficult,” it wasn`t all gloom. In the spring of 2023, in a match against Nice, Messi became the top scorer in European club football history, netting his 702nd goal and surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo. In PSG`s 2-0 victory, Messi also reached the milestone of 1000 goal contributions at the club level.

June 3, 2023: Messi Plays Final Match for PSG

Two days after Galtier confirmed Messi`s departure, the World Cup winner played his final match at the Parc des Princes as a PSG player. It was an eventful, though not entirely positive, evening for PSG – Messi was booed by some fans, and the hosts ultimately lost 3-2 to Clermont, despite Mbappe scoring a brace early in the game.