Messi Has A Different Mission With Inter Miami At The 2025 Club World Cup

Lionel Messi is not too ambitious to win the 2025 Club World Cup with Inter Miami (Instagram/@intermimamicf).

JAKARTA - Lionel Messi said that he had different hopes when he appeared for Inter Miami at the 2025 Club World Cup.

Previously, when in the uniform of another team, especially Barcelona, the Argentine star was clearly eyeing the title.

The proof, together with the Blaugrana, Messi won the 2009, 2011, and 2015 Club World Cups.

However, he remains excited to perform well among the best teams in the world.

"Yes, this is an interesting tournament. Getting the opportunity to be a part of it is really exciting."

"My hopes are different from those I have when I play for other teams, but I am excited. I hope to perform well against the best (team)," Messi told FIFA on Friday, June 13, 2025, local time.

The 2025 edition tournament, held across the United States, features an expansion into 32 teams for the first time.

Inter Miami and Messi will start the tournament against Al Ahly (Egypt) on Sunday, June 15, 2025, morning WIB, before facing FC Porto (Portugal) and Palmeiras (Brazil) in the group stage.

Unlike the long and rich history of many other clubs appearing in the FIFA tournament, Inter Miami has just debuted in Major League Soccer in 2020.

"As I said before, they have the best players in the world. So, it's a good opportunity to fight them."

"A very pleasant experience for both the players on the field and for the supporters in the stands," said Messi.

For the opening match, Inter Miami will play without one of their players with the experience of the previous Club World Cup, Messi's former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed on Friday, June 13, 2025, that Alba, Yannick Bright, and Gonzalo Lujan will all be sidelined due to injury.

However, he expressed hope that they could return for their second match against Porto on Friday, June 20, 2025, early morning WIB.

Mascherano also expressed his frustration that Inter Miami failed to add players ahead of the tournament.

"Over the last few months, we've said we need to bring in some extra players."

"Not only because we have several injured players, but also because we decided at the end of the MLS transfer market to release Robert Taylor and Julian Gressel. You see, we need to have the opportunity to bring in other players."

"This is the most important tournament in the history of our club. This tournament has quite a short period, but it is the most important tournament we have ever participated in."

"As I've said before, I only care about what I can control and what I can do."

"Then, other parties must take their own responsibility and speak for themselves."

"On my side, the only responsibility is to prepare for the game as best as possible. I'm happy with that. However, it's clear that we need to strengthen our squad and that hasn't happened yet," Marcherano said.

Inter Miami players insist that the team will face this tournament game after game in hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Although they don't have the list of players they want, Mascherano says they will enjoy the opportunity to measure their ability to fight the best in the world for the first time in a competitive environment.

"I think it's a great opportunity for us to test each other to see our level."

"Maybe we know the level we have in MLS and Concacaf, where we competed directly until the last round of the Concacaf Champions Cup."

"Now, the level is higher and we want to reach that level. So, from an emotional point of view there is no question, no doubt."

"We have a beautiful possibility ahead of us and that challenge is something we welcome with great enthusiasm, with high self-confidence."

"We look forward to showing our true potential as a team," said the Argentine coach.