Lionel Messi meets former club in 2025 Club World Cup

Lionel Messi will face Paris Saint-Germain — his former club with whom he shares a complex history in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Club World Cup.

Four years ago, the Argentine star’s arrival in Paris was met with high expectations — hoped to be the perfect complement to the trio alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

“My dream is to win the Champions League again and I am in the ideal place to get that chance and do it,” stated Messi during his introduction in Paris.

However, those hopes did not materialize — PSG actually experienced a decline in Champions League performance with eliminations in the Round of 16 for two consecutive seasons.

Despite helping the club secure the French League title, Messi’s achievements in Paris were considered to fall short of the extremely high expectations upon his arrival.