LIONEL MESSI was left shell-shocked as Inter Miami were brutally dumped out of the Club World Cup.
The Kings of Europe brutally disposed of David Beckham’s sorry MLS side with a 4-0 win in the last 16 in Atlanta.
Lionel Messi was left shell-shocked by his former team PSG at the Club World Cup
Messi was consoled by PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at full-time
Messi was battered by his former club in Atlanta
L’Equipe sent Lionel Messi a brutal warning on their front page
Messi’s clash with his former employers had been highlighted as a shot at REVENGE for PSG in French media after the Argentine’s very underwhelming spell in Paris.
France’s iconic sport paper L’Equipe plastered a picture of him on the front page with the headline: “Messi… not all is forgiven.”
And PSG’s players duly showed zero mercy as they absolutely steamrollered Miami in the first half.
Two goals from Portugal superstar Joao Neves, a Tomas Aviles own goal and a strike from Europe‘s finest right-back Achraf Hakimi had the result done and dusted before the break.
In the first half Miami completed 25 passes in the opposition half while PSG managed 257 in a show of total dominance.
And Messi cut a forlorn figure, looking every one of his 38 years as neither he, nor his team-mates, could lay a glove on his opponents.
The gap in class at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was huge as PSG bulldozed a side containing former European superstars Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Inter Miami qualified for the Club World Cup after winning a nothing trophy – the MLS Supporters’ Shield – and were taught a lesson for it.
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Messi has been central to Miami’s growth and Fifa’s marketing of the tournament.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved to the MLS when he left PSG in 2023 on a free transfer.
Joao Neves scored two first half goals in Atlanta
Tomas Aviles’ own-goal made it 3-0 in the 44th minute
Messi’s former team-mate Achraf Hakimi banged in a fourth before half-time
He had been billed as the man to finally bring European glory to the big-spending Parisians – forming a famed attacking trio alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
But his lacklustre performances left fans bitterly disappointed, with Messi even being booed at the Parc des Princes.
He caused further upset in the country when his Argentina beat France in the 2022 World Cup final.
PSG finally ended their European hoodoo last month – and showed Messi here just how far they have come without him.
An unmarked Neves header from a free-kick put Luis Enrique’s side ahead inside six minutes, before the youngster finished off a lovely team move in the 39th minute.
Aviles‘ own goal saw the MLS side capitulate before Hakimi piled on the misery with a low finish from 10 yards in the third minute of first-half injury time.
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As the Moroccan full-back was celebrating, his former team-mate Messi looked up to the scoreboard in complete disbelief.
Messi had a header routinely saved by Gianliugi Donnarumma in the second half, but it was all in vain as PSG coasted to a 4-0 victory.
And a clearly distraught Messi was consoled by the Italian keeper with a hug at full-time.
PSG will now play Bayern Munich or Flamengo in Saturday’s quarter-final.
While Beckham – who was watching with his arm in a sling after surgery on a 22-year-old injury this week – will hope his side can regroup in their domestic competitions.
David Beckham arrived with his arm in a sling after surgery
PSG fielded a strong team against Inter Miami
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