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Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami side have secured a place in the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup, maintaining the Argentine superstar's impeccable record of never being eliminated in the group stage of any competition throughout his illustrious career. Despite recent performances that raised doubts about Inter Miami's prospects, the team advanced with two draws and one victory in the group stage.
Inter Miami, competing as the host nation, faced Brazilian club Palmeiras in their final group match on Tuesday. A draw was sufficient for Messi’s side to progress, and they achieved just that, finishing with a 2-2 scoreline. Inter Miami held a commanding 2-0 lead, thanks to goals from Messi and Luis Suárez, until the final 15 minutes when Palmeiras staged a comeback. Paulinho scored in the 80th minute, and Mauricio equalized with a powerful strike from inside the box in the 87th minute.
Both teams ended the group stage with five points, but Palmeiras topped the group due to a superior goal difference, leaving Inter Miami in second place. In the Round of 16, Inter Miami will face a formidable opponent in Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the recent UEFA Champions League winners. This matchup holds special significance for Messi, as PSG is his former club, and the team is coached by Luis Enrique, his mentor from his Barcelona days.
Coincidentally, Messi celebrated his 38th birthday on the day of the match, marking the occasion with yet another milestone: maintaining his 100% record of advancing past the group stage in all 33 competitions he has played in, whether at the club or international level. This achievement further cements Messi's legacy as one of football’s greatest-ever players.
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