Inter Miami face Palmeiras for the third match of the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The Herons could earn their ticket into the Round of 16 of the competition with a win or a draw. So, all eyes are on captain and superstar Lionel Messi, who could help his team keep making history.
Messi will play from the start tonight at the Hard Rock Stadium. The soon-to-be 38-year-old trained with the team without any trouble despite feeling some pain in his quadriceps in the match against Porto, in which he scored the winning goal with a beautiful free-kick shot.
Miami‘s coach Javier Mascherano revealed Messi played while injured after the match. “With the pain he had in his quadriceps and the way he kept running, it’s crazy. His presence wasn’t guaranteed before the match,” Mascherano told reporters.
While Miami’s win against Porto was surprising, the Herons now have their toughest test in the competition yet against Palmeiras. The Brazilians first drew with Porto 0-0 and beat Al-Ahly 2-0 in their second match.
Both Miami and Palmeiras have four points each. With a draw, both teams will advance to the Round of 16, and a loss could still qualify The Herons depending on the result between Al-Ahly and Porto. However, a win is the best way to secure a spot in the next round.
Messi could match Cristiano Ronaldo’s record at the Club World Cup
With his goal against Porto, Messi became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA competitions (with 25 goals) and has scored six goals in all his appearances in the competition, which he has won three times with Barcelona.
Moreover, if Messi scores another goal, he will be tied with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the top goalscorer of the Club World Cup. While it’s clear that the main motivation is to help Miami have the best run possible, the Argentine star could add another record to his list.