Lionel Messi is set to face Paris Saint-Germain in a highly anticipated Round of 16 matchup at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Now leading Inter Miami as an underdog, the Argentine icon will look to extend his favorable record against the French powerhouse in what promises to be a special showdown.
Against the odds, Inter Miami finished second in Group A after a heartbreaking draw to Palmeiras on Matchday 3. Two late goals dropped the Herons out of first place, setting up a clash with Group B winners PSG—ironically, the club that won the UEFA Champions League after Messi’s departure from Paris.
This match marks a historic moment in Messi’s storied career. For the first time, he’ll face one of his former clubs in competitive play. He never played against Barcelona after leaving, nor PSG since departing in 2023, and now fans are eager to see if he can once again rise to the occasion next Sunday 29.
Messi’s slim edge over PSG
Throughout his legendary career, Messi has faced PSG 10 times, all while wearing a Barcelona jersey in UEFA Champions League action. He holds a narrow edge in the rivalry, with 4 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses, along with 6 goals and 1 assist.
Their first meeting came in the 2012–13 quarterfinals. Hampered by muscle issues, Messi played just 73 minutes over the two legs. He scored in the 2–2 draw in Paris and came off the bench for 28 minutes in the second leg, helping Barca advance on away goals after another 1–1 draw.
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During the 2014–15 campaign—Barcelona’s famed MSN era—Messi faced PSG four times: twice in the group stage and twice in the quarterfinals. He scored in both group games (a 3–2 loss and a 3–1 win). In the knockout rounds, he assisted in a 3–1 away win before a 2–0 victory at home, en route to lifting the Champions League trophy that season.
The most iconic chapter came in 2016–17, when PSG shocked Barça with a 4–0 win in Paris in the Round of 16. But the second leg at Camp Nou delivered one of the greatest comebacks in soccer history: a 6–1 Barca win, with Messi scoring and Neymar delivering a masterclass.
Their last meeting occurred during the 2020–21 pandemic-affected season. PSG got their revenge, eliminating Barcelona for the first time. Messi scored in a 4–1 first-leg loss and added another goal in the 1–1 draw at the Parc des Princes, but it wasn’t enough.
Now with Inter Miami, Messi will face PSG once more—this time in a new jersey, on a global stage. With 6 goals and 1 assist across their past 10 meetings, the Argentine star is poised to write another chapter in this compelling rivalry—this time, under the Club World Cup spotlight.
