Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in a highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 match scheduled for this Sunday. The encounter is notable as it pits Messi against his former team, a club widely regarded as one of the tournament`s favorites. Inter Miami secured their progression by finishing second in Group A, recording one win and two draws. Meanwhile, PSG topped Group B with a stronger performance, achieving two victories and one loss, resulting in an impressive +5 goal differential. In their most recent group stage matches, PSG claimed a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders, while Inter Miami concluded their group stage with a 2-2 draw against Palmeiras.
Key Players for PSG
Forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is expected to be a significant force for Paris Saint-Germain. The 24-year-old attacker has been in strong form, netting four goals and providing two assists in his last five appearances. In PSG`s recent victory against the Sounders, he contributed a goal from two shots, both of which were on target. Throughout the FIFA Club World Cup campaign so far, Kvaratskhelia has been active in front of goal, taking 10 shots with five hitting the target over three matches.
Another potent attacking option for PSG is forward Bradley Barcola. He delivered an assist in Monday`s win over Seattle. During the previous French Ligue 1 season, Barcola was one of three PSG players to score 10 or more goals. He finished the season impressively with a tally of 14 goals and 10 assists across 34 appearances, highlighting his dual threat as both a scorer and a creator.
Key Players for Inter Miami
The legendary Lionel Messi, at 38 years old, continues to demonstrate his world-class ability. In his three starts in the FIFA Club World Cup, he has scored one goal from nine shots taken, with four of those being on target. His decisive free-kick goal in the 54th minute secured Inter Miami a 2-1 victory over FC Porto on June 19. His MLS season performance has also been stellar, recording 10 goals and seven assists in 13 matches, including 12 starts.
Forward Tadeo Allende also plays a crucial role in the Inter Miami attack. The 26-year-old Argentine scored a goal from two shots, with one on target, in the recent 2-2 draw against Palmeiras. So far this season, across 13 appearances (10 starts), Allende has accumulated six goals and taken 21 shots, nine of which have tested the goalkeeper. A notable performance included scoring in the dominant 5-1 win against the Columbus Crew on May 31, where he scored from one of his two shots on target.
