Lionel Messi is poised for a reunion with his former club Paris Saint-Germain after guiding Inter Miami into the last 16 of the Club World Cup, following a 2-2 draw with Palmeiras.
The Brazilian side mounted a late comeback at Hard Rock Stadium to secure a point, ensuring both teams advanced to the knockout stages of the competition. Inter Miami, who had previously stunned Porto, appeared to be heading for another upset after taking a two-goal lead, but Palmeiras struck twice in the closing minutes to salvage the draw.
Tadeo Allende opened the scoring for Miami after 16 minutes, finishing confidently after latching onto a deft chest pass from Luis Suárez, who turned back the years with an excellent display. Suárez doubled Miami’s advantage in the 65th minute with a brilliant solo effort, weaving past two defenders before smashing the ball into the top corner.
Palmeiras, however, refused to surrender. Substitute Paulinho reduced the deficit in the 80th minute, finishing smartly after being released by a clever reverse pass from Allan Andrade. Then, just three minutes from time, Mauricio pounced on a loose ball following Maxi Falcon’s header and rifled home to make it 2-2.
Despite failing to hold on for victory, Inter Miami’s place in the knockout stages marks a major achievement for the MLS club, who had not been widely expected to progress. Their reward is a daunting encounter against European champions PSG, which will see Messi face his old side for the first time since departing for Miami in 2023.
The match, scheduled to take place in Atlanta, will coincide with Messi’s 38th birthday, adding further intrigue to an already highly anticipated clash.
“It’s a historic night for MLS,” said Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano. “We are among the best 16 teams in the world, and the entire league should be proud of what Inter Miami has achieved.”
Palmeiras’ draw sets up an all-Brazilian showdown with Botafogo in the next round, while Egyptian side Al Ahly and Porto were both eliminated despite their thrilling 4-4 draw earlier in the day.
Monday’s match saw six Argentines start for Inter Miami, as a lively Brazilian contingent among the 60,914-strong crowd provided a vibrant backdrop.
Palmeiras created the first real chance of the match through Gustavo Gomez, whose powerful header from a corner forced a sharp save from Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. But it was Miami who controlled much of the first half, with Messi linking well with Sergio Busquets and Federico Redondo as Palmeiras struggled to disrupt their rhythm.
Messi, who was largely contained for much of the contest, tested Palmeiras keeper Weverton early in the second half with a low drive from the edge of the area, while Allende and Messi both came close to extending the lead before Suárez’s superb goal.
Reflecting on the result, Mascherano admitted to mixed emotions: “Perhaps we had the game in our hands, so the feeling is bittersweet. But had anyone told me before the tournament that we would perform like this against such strong opponents, I would have gladly accepted.”
Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira was scathing in his assessment of the first half but praised his team’s fighting spirit. “At half-time, I told them it was impossible to play any worse. We failed to control the match or press effectively. But the way we battled in the second half made the difference and we were rewarded for our persistence,” he said.
