Lionel Messi handed reunion he didn't want as Beckham and Infantino get their way

Lionel Messi will be reunited with his former club Paris Saint-Germain after Inter Miami made it through to the last 16 at theClub World Cup.Miami drew 2-2 with Brazilian side Palmeiras to secure second place in their group and passage to the knockout stages.

Goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez put the home side in command inside the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida before Palmeiras fought back late on. Paulinho and Mauricio netted late on to draw and deny Miami top spot.

The result means a tricky tie against Champions League winners PSG in Atlanta on Sunday for Messi, Suarez and co, while Palmeiras will play fellow Brazilian side Botafogo in the next round.

While Messi will be happy to see PSG boss Luis Enrique – who managed him, Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Barcelona – it could mean an awkward reunion with the French club. Messi left PSG in 2023 after two years, having been left unconvinced they could compete for the top prizes in Europe.

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Although he left at the end of his two-year deal following an emotional departure from Barca, PSG actually opted not to trigger a one-year extension. The Parisians wanted to focus on developing young players, rather than continuing to pay superstars – a shift that ultimately paid dividends last season as they finally won the Champions League for the first time.

The tie between Miami - who were effectively shoehorned into the competition by Infantino - and PSG is a perfect result for FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who has been under pressure following a lacklustre start to the Club World Cup. The plumb tie may help draw attention away from the meagre crowds and boiling-hot heat that have drawn complaints from players and managers.

Infantino has put all his eggs into the basket of the United States, having personally moved to Miami ahead of the Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup. And he was typically bullish when discussing the plans to expand the game in the US.

“Three to four, maximum five years..., [soccer and MLS] will be top, top, top,” he said at Fanatics Fest in New York. “One of the top leagues in the world, for sure. And I can tell you why: because now I’m here.”

It is also a huge boost for Inter Miami owner David Beckham, eager to promote his club and its growth on the world stage. Now he will get to see them take on the European champion - a former club of his too - in front of a major worldwide audience.

Meanwhile, Suarez knows his side must improve to stand a chance against PSG. He said: "If we make these mistakes against PSG we will pay a heavy price. Obviously, in this kind of tournament there is always going to be a favourite, that's just a fact. We'll be facing the European champions and we will have to try and take our chances.

"Luis Enrique has seen many players and he influenced me a lot. I already had a competitive DNA but he made me even more competitive."

Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said: “Before the tournament, we were practically the underdogs, but with discipline, fight – and above all, football – we overcame obstacles, grew as a team, and now we’re in the quarterfinals.

“This level of competition isn’t something we regularly encounter in our domestic league. We’ve shown we have no complexes. It’s been a huge learning experience, and we have rightfully earned the privilege to play the European champions. We’ll strive to match them, but at the end of the day, it’s still 11 against 11.”

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