Lionel Messi consoled by former team-mates after PSG maul Inter Miami

Lionel Messi

Luis Enrique

After Paris Saint-Germain defeated Inter Miami 4-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup round of 16 on June 29, 2025, Lionel Messi was visibly dejected but found solace in heartfelt reunions with former teammates. Ousmane Dembele, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona from 2017 to 2021, came on as a substitute for PSG and later swapped shirts with him, sharing a warm moment in the tunnel. PSG manager Luis Enrique, who coached Messi to nine trophies at Barcelona, including the 2015 Champions League, was seen smiling and affectionately stroking Messi’s hair during a post-match exchange. Messi also embraced former PSG teammates Gianluigi Donnarumma and Presnel Kimpembe, with whom he played during his two seasons in Paris from 2021 to 2023. These interactions, marked by handshakes and shared memories, lifted Messi’s spirits despite the crushing defeat.

Lionel Messi exited Inter Miami Leagues Cup match against Necaxa after suffering an apparent hamstring injury

Lionel Messi exited Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on August 2, 2025, in the 11th minute due to an apparent hamstring injury. The injury occurred after he made contact with Necaxa defenders Raúl Sánchez and Alexis Peña while dribbling into the penalty area, causing him to fall and show visible frustration. He attempted to continue but required medical attention and was substituted by Federico Redondo. Inter Miami's head coach, Javier Mascherano, stated post-match that Messi felt "discomfort" in his hamstring, with further tests needed to determine the injury's severity, though he noted Messi wasn't in significant pain. Some reports suggest a potential recovery time of three to four weeks, which could rule him out for the remainder of the Leagues Cup, ending August 31, 2025. However, no official confirmation on the exact recovery timeline has been provided by Inter Miami as of August 3, 2025.

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