Club World Cup

Not seen on TV: Lionel Messi’s violent moment with Vitinha during Inter Miami’s loss to PSG at FIFA Club World Cup 2025

PSG were too much for Inter Miami at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and in a moment of frustration, Lionel Messi reacted unexpectedly toward his rival Vitinha.

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
© Alex Grimm/Getty ImagesLionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

PSG showcased their full power against a clearly outmatched Inter Miami, delivering a dominant 4–0 win in the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Lionel Messi could do little against his former club, and in the midst of growing frustration, a violent gesture from the Argentine toward Vitinha went unnoticed on the TV broadcast.

The talented Portuguese midfielder picked up the ball near the center circle at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and, with smooth and skillful moves, prevented the Argentine star from taking it away from him.

In response to the situation—and in an unprecedented moment—Messi appeared to throw a punch at his opponent, which, fortunately for both, did not make contact. While the incident certainly drew attention, it’s highly uncharacteristic behavior from the number 10.

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Although this unfortunate event went unnoticed at first, it quickly went viral on social media. The participation of the former Barcelona player and his teammates in this important event came to a decisive end against one of the main title contenders.

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A painful defeat for Inter Miami

Although many believed that the chances of victory were virtually slim, others held on to the hope of a hypothetical win for the Herons. The truth is that Lionel Messi was decisively defeated by his former team, thus putting an end to his participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

PSG destroy Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Funniest memes and reactions

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With an outstanding performance from Joao Neves, who stood out with a brace, PSG were far superior to their opponent and ended up sealing a 4-0 thrashing with two more goals—one from Achraf Hakimi and an own goal by Aviles. It’s worth noting that all of these goals were scored in the first half.

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Vitinha once again led Luis Enrique’s squad, a team that is shaping up as one of the serious title contenders. In the quarterfinals, the Parisian side now awaits the winner of the clash between Flamengo and Bayern Munich.

What’s next for the Herons?

Inter Miami ended their participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup following a defeat against PSG, and now must return to their domestic competition, where they currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

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Their next match will be on July 5th, when they face Montreal away at the always challenging Stade Saputo.

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