Have we watched Messi’s final game on global stage?

Lionel Messi suffered a significant defeat as he prepared to play his final game on the international stage, but he still managed to put some magic touches on display.

The 38-year-old Argentine was undoubtedly the greatest player in history as Inter Miami lost to his former team Paris St-Germain 4-0 at the Club World Cup.

After the game, which 65, 574 fans watched, Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano said, “PSG are in great form, champions of everything, but people still pay for a ticket to see Leo Messi, even at 38 years old.”

Lucas Beraldo, a PSG defender, said: “Leo is a special person. It was wonderful to play a game with him. It’s special because I was a kid and watched his magic on television as a child.

At the end of 2025, Messi will not be working for Inter Miami. Beyond that, nothing else is guaranteed.

And he seems to have no idea whether he will participate in the 2026 World Cup, which will also be held in the US, Mexico, and Canada, in a year.

Both Argentina team-mates Luis Suarez and Nicolas Otamendi anticipate Messi’s reinstatement until at least that point.

No one knows, at least not Messi himself, according to Guillem Balague, who wrote a book about the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in 2023.

In his BBC Sport column before this game, the Spanish journalist claimed Messi is reportedly in talks to extend his stay at the club and that his family is settled there.

He is just taking it tournament after tournament, Balague said.

“If he renews and stays in America, he will assess the situation when necessary,” he said. “For the time being, he is just taking things step by step.

Everyone who is involved wants to see him represent Argentina at the World Cup in America in 2014. However, he hasn’t made a decision in the end.

With about five minutes left, Messi stood over a free-kick and looked on, “I’m going to score,” but he hit the wall.

He walks around the pitch and just goes when the ball touches his feet, which is clever. He’s like a player from another planet, ex-Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi, who is keeping an eye on Dazn.

He was incredible playing against when he was Messi Messi in his youth. It never leaves his feet, no matter how he plays or how he moves the ball.

Football will never forget Messi, who has scored goals for Inter Miami (50) and Barcelona (722) in the all-time scoring record.

But his best days are undoubtedly and understandably behind him at the age of 38.

This was his first encounter with a former team in his 1, 109-game career, which was remarkable.

And it was only against the one club where he fell short of expectations. Since he left, PSG has been a better team, with only 32 goals in 75 games not assisting them in winning the Champions League.

After scoring four times in the opening period, PSG eased up in the second half, allowing Messi to have more time as Inter Miami saw more of the ball.

Suarez had a fantastic chance thanks to a superb cushioned ball that Suarez could not get past.

Lionel Messi’s “touch of the tournament,” according to Dazn pundit Don Hutchison, the former Scotland midfielder.

It’s unfortunate Suarez couldn’t finish the move because Messi was genius because of how much of a pass it was to knock it over the defender with perfect weight and precision.

A blocked shot was then hit by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved a few shots before slashing them in the wall.

The first was a header that he scored as a result of his Barcelona’s win over Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final goal.

According to his boss, and former Barcelona teammate Mascherano, “I think Leo played a great game, within our options.”

We found him much more in the second half. Due to Paris’ pressure, we couldn’t do it in the first half.

It seems as though this will be his final game, which will likely be watched worldwide, as well as by those who are fans of this Marmite Fifa Club World Cup.

From now on, if he stays at Inter Miami, it’s likely that all he does will be doing will be at club level.