Messi Still Magic Inter Miami Make Club World Cup History!

Article Heading: Ridiculous Lionel Messi Record Emerges as Inter Miami Make History at Club World Cup

Lionel Messi, the maestro of modern football, has once again etched his name into the history books, this time with Inter Miami at the revamped Club World Cup. On what was coincidentally his 38th birthday, Messi guided his team to the last-16, marking a significant milestone not just for the club, but for Major League Soccer (MLS) as a whole.

Inter Miami's journey to the knockout stage wasn't without its drama. Their final Group A match against Palmeiras ended in a 2-2 draw, securing them second place behind the Brazilian side with a total of five points. The Herons initially surged ahead with goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez, putting them in a commanding 2-0 lead. However, Palmeiras mounted a late comeback, with goals from Paulinho and Mauricio in the final ten minutes, forcing a draw.

Despite the draw, the result was enough to secure Inter Miami's place in the next round, making them the first American team to ever reach the play-offs of the Club World Cup. This achievement casts a shadow on their MLS rivals, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) and Seattle Sounders, who are currently languishing at the bottom of their respective groups.

Here's a quick look at how the other MLS teams are faring:

• Seattle Sounders: Hold the unfortunate distinction of being the first team to lose all three of their group matches.
• LAFC: On the verge of matching Seattle's record, having already suffered two defeats.
• Inter Miami: The only MLS team to not only secure points but also clinch a victory in the tournament.

But the story doesn't end there. Miami's qualification has extended a truly remarkable record for Lionel Messi. Prepare to be amazed:

Messi has now progressed from *every single* group stage he has ever participated in, a staggering 33 times, for both club and country!

Consider this:

• At Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), he consistently led his teams to the Champions League knockout stages.
• For the Argentina national team, he achieved the same feat at the World Cup and Copa America.

Now, fate has set the stage for a tantalizing encounter: Inter Miami will face tournament favorites PSG for a spot in the quarter-finals. The plot thickens!

This upcoming match holds significant emotional weight. Messi, who scored 32 goals in 75 games for PSG between 2021 and 2023, will now be looking to defeat his former team. Adding to the intrigue, Messi will reunite with his ex-Barcelona teammates Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, as they face their former manager, Luis Enrique, who now leads PSG.

Alba acknowledged the challenge, stating, "We’re talking about the champions of Europe... We know many of their players and their coach, who I was lucky enough to have coach me, and I’ve always said he is the best in the world. I will connect with good friends there but once the game starts, we will compete, try to beat them, and why can’t we do it? This is football.”

Inter Miami's coach, Javier Mascherano, remains optimistic, pointing out that PSG are not invincible, having already lost to Botafogo in the group stage. He commented, "We’ll take it seriously, and we’ll try to play a great game to see what our chances are. Anything can happen in a soccer game and maybe Sunday will be our day. Sometimes that happens.”

The stage is set for a captivating clash between Inter Miami and PSG. Will Messi continue his incredible group stage record and lead his team to victory? Only time will tell. One thing is certain: the world will be watching.

Tags: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, Club World Cup, MLS, Football, Soccer, Sports, Luis Suarez, Tadeo Allende, Palmeiras

Source: https://talksport.com/football/3316567/lionel-messi-stat-inter-miami-club-world-cup/