"Messi's greatest message isn't words, but what he does on the pitch. Let's see how far he can take us," Mascherano said on 28/6 during the pre-match press conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.

Coach Javier Mascherano embraces Lionel Messi during an Inter Miami training session in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA on 13/6/2025. Photo: AP

Coach Javier Mascherano embraces Lionel Messi during an Inter Miami training session in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA on 13/6/2025. Photo: AP

In Group A of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Messi was unlucky to hit the crossbar in the opening 0-0 draw against Al Ahly, then shone with a superb free-kick to help Inter Miami defeat Porto 2-1. In the final match, the Argentinian star played the full 90 minutes as Inter Miami drew 2-2 with Palmeiras, finishing second in the group.

"Against Palmeiras, when he was in good shape, Messi delivered an impressive 95-minute performance, setting the tempo for his teammates. Then, in terms of communication, he knows how to guide, especially the younger, less experienced players," Mascherano continued to praise his student.

Messi played for PSG from 2021 to 2023, winning two Ligue 1 titles and one French Super Cup. However, after helping Argentina defeat France in the 2022 World Cup final, his relationship with PSG fans broke down. Shortly after joining Inter Miami, Messi told the media that he had experienced two unhappy years in Paris.

Mascherano declined to comment on whether Messi would have extra motivation facing his former club. "Everything surrounding Messi clearly generates a lot of attention," the 41-year-old coach said. "As Argentinians, we know what has been created since the 2022 World Cup. The most important thing is that Messi plays well, and that's what makes us feel more secure."

This season, PSG swept all the titles, winning Ligue 1, the French Cup, the French Super Cup, and the Champions League. "We're not naive, we know we are the underdogs," Mascherano admitted. "But that doesn't mean PSG will win. We will fight. The most important thing is that we have to put on the best possible performance to compete with a club of superior quality. But no club is perfect. We have to find a way to hurt them."

Similarly, midfielder Federico Redondo acknowledged that Inter Miami are considered underdogs against PSG but could cause an upset. "We have to play an almost perfect game," he emphasized. "PSG is a club that, if you create space inside, they will attack inside; if you create space on the wings, they will attack on the wings. They have players capable of creating breakthroughs, dribbling, and combining well."

Hong Duy (ESPN)