Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami: Confirmed line-ups as Messi faces former team for the first time

Lionel Messi will line up against a former team for the first time ever as Inter Miami take on Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta in the last 16 of the Club World Cup.

In one of the most eye-catching knockout fixtures at the tournaments so far, Messi – who turned 38 just a few days ago – meets the club for whom he made more than 50 appearances in what was a largely unhappy stint for the Argentine between 2021 and 2023.

However, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to produce performances that belie his age – the most recent being a dazzling free-kick he scored against FC Porto in the group stage.

Despite the possibility of some more Messi magic, Miami will start the match very much as underdogs.

Recently-crowned champions of Europe, PSG are arguably the best team on the planet right now, and manager Luis Enrique will be buoyed by the return of forward Ousmane Dembele for the clash at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The France international suffered a quad injury playing for his country in the Nations League but recently returned to training and is fit enough to make the bench.

Read on to see how the two teams line-up for this intriguing contest.

The build-up starts now. Vamos Miami

Watch #PSGvMIA here: https://t.co/zOQpNK9VfS pic.twitter.com/qw6EWk0UEJ

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) June 29, 2025

Paris Saint-Germain team news

The big team news from the PSG camp is the return of Dembele to the squad. He can only make the bench while Bradley Barcola, who comes in for Senny Mayulu, completes a deadly front trio that also includes Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

A formidable midfield of Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Joao Neves sits behind them, with the back four marshalled by captain Marquinhos.

Starting XI: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves, Kvaratskhelia, Doue, Barcola

Subs: Beraldo, Dembele, Hernandez, Kamara, Lee Kang-In, Mayulu, Mbaye, Ramos, Safonov, Arnau Tenas, Zaire-Emery

The starting XI! #PSGMIA | #FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/VoO7x4YwNz

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) June 29, 2025

Inter Miami team news

There had been some pre-match speculation that experienced full-back Jordi Alba could miss out for Miami but manager Javier Mascherano has named the former Barcelona player in the starting team.

Alba joins three other ex-Barca stars in Mascherano’s line-up, with Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets all starting.

PSG fans won’t easily forget the famous 6-1 victory at the Camp Nou in 2017 that saw the Catalan club overturn a four-goal deficit in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16.

Messi and Suarez both found the net that day, while Mascherano featured and Alba was on the bench. The Barcelona boss back then? Luis Enrique.

Starting XI: Ustari, Alba, Falcon, Allen, Weigandt, Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia, Messi, Suarez

Subs: Rios Novo, Yarbrough Sailor, Martinez, Aviles, Cremaschi, Rodriguez, Morales, Picault, Afonso, Obando

Este es nuestro vs PSG

Watch #PSGvMIA here: https://t.co/zOQpNK9VfS pic.twitter.com/6KW4Tw094E

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) June 29, 2025