Messi will face a unique challenge with Inter Miami at 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, says France legend

In just over a month, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will kick off with an expanded format featuring 32 teams split into 8 groups. Inter Miami are expected to be one of the tournament’s main attractions, not only as a host club but due to the global attention surrounding Lionel Messi. French legend Yuri Djorkaeff recently reflected on that.

“It will be very interesting to watch Messi playing this tournament,” Djorkaeff said during a recent interview shared by reporter Jose Armando on his X account. “Why? Because he’s used to play to win the tournaments. Because he’s used to play in the best team.”

The World Cup winner with France in 1998 reflected on Leo’s career, making it clear that he has always played for powerhouse teams at both the club and international level. “He played for Barcelona for years, he played for Paris Saint-Germain, he played for his country, Argentina. And every time he was playing for these teams, he was able to think about winning the tournament,” said the former midfielder.

However, things could be very different at the FIFA Club World Cup. “Maybe in this tournament, Inter Miami, they’re not the best team. We are expecting a European team,” Djorkaeff acknowledged. “And it will be very interesting to watch Messi as a leader, leading this team to the best.”

French legend Yuri Djorkaeff

Can Inter Miami compete in the Club World Cup?

Djorkaeff’s comments align with the tough admission Sergio Busquets made recently about Inter Miami’s chances at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The Spanish midfielder was brutally honest in recognizing that the Herons are currently far from the level of Europe’s top teams.

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“It is clear that we are not at the level to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, but we will try to compete in the group, take it one game at a time, fight and hopefully advance to the next phase, although it will be difficult,” Busquets said in an interview with DAZN.

Still, another player on the team, Tadeo Allende, offered a more optimistic message. “Obviously, we’re going to compete… We’re going to give everything we’ve got, we’re going to fight until the last game, and then we’ll see,” he said, according to reporter Jose Armando.

Inter Miami’s path in the Club World Cup

Inter Miami will open the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday, June 14, at Hard Rock Stadium against Egypt’s Al Ahly SC. Five days later, they will face Porto in Atlanta and close out the group stage against Brazil’s Palmeiras on Monday, June 23, once again in Miami. If they finish among the top two teams in Group A, they will secure a spot in the tournament’s Round of 16.