Messi Leads Inter Miami Into Last 16 as Atlético Misses Out Despite Win
Inter Miami advanced to the Round of 16 in the FIFA Club World Cup after a tense 2-2 draw against Brazil’s Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium. The result sent both clubs through to the knockout stage, while Atlético Madrid, despite a late win, exited the tournament.
Lionel Messi was central to Miami’s performance on Sunday night. First-half goals by Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez gave the MLS side a 2-0 lead. Palmeiras responded in the final ten minutes, with Paulinho and Mauricio leveling the score and ensuring the Brazilian champions finished atop Group A.
Palmeiras will now meet Botafogo in an all-Brazilian tie. Inter Miami, who finished second in the group, will face European champions Paris Saint-Germain—Messi’s former club.
Messi will reunite with a familiar figure in PSG head coach Luis Enrique, under whom he played at FC Barcelona. The Miami squad also includes former Barcelona stars Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, as well as coach Javier Mascherano.
“We’re talking about the champions of Europe,” Alba said. “I will connect with good friends there, but once the game starts, we will compete. Why can’t we beat them? This is football.”
Mascherano praised the achievement as a milestone for the league. “It’s a historic night for MLS. We’re among the best 16 teams in the world. All of the MLS has to be proud of Inter Miami.”
In Group B, PSG bounced back from a shock loss to Botafogo by defeating Seattle Sounders 2-0. Goals by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi sealed the win. PSG topped the group after Botafogo lost late to Atlético Madrid.
Despite beating Botafogo 1-0 with an 87th-minute goal from Antoine Griezmann, Atlético Madrid was knocked out due to inferior goal difference. Their earlier 4-0 defeat to PSG proved costly.
“We’re frustrated that we didn’t qualify,” Diego Simeone said. “We had six points… but it wasn’t enough. We were punished.”
Atlético players were visibly upset over denied penalty calls during the match.
Meanwhile, in Group A, both Porto and Al Ahly were eliminated after a dramatic 4-4 draw. Pepe scored an 89th-minute equalizer for Porto, while Wessam Abou Ali recorded a hat-trick for Al Ahly. Despite the spectacle at MetLife Stadium, neither side advanced beyond the group stage.
The next round is set to deliver high-stakes matchups, with Messi and PSG’s reunion dominating headlines. The knockout matches will begin later this week as the race for the Club World Cup intensifies.
