Lionel Messi reportedly plans to leave Inter Miami and Major League Soccer six months before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in order to arrive at the tournament in peak condition. Following Inter Miami’s elimination from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain,

Paris Saint-Germain, Messi's former club and the team that won the Champions League final only a few weeks ago, contained one of the game's greatest players at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and routed Inter Miami 4-0 in the round of 16.

The Parisians blew out the MLS side, 4-0, in the Round of 16 at the Club World Cup on Sunday. João Neves led PSG with a brace, Achraf Hakimi added a tally and a Tomás Avilés own-goal in the first half added insult to injury.