PSG stars make Lionel Messi feelings very clear moments after thrashing
The Club World Cup provided a platform for Lionel Messi's prowess to once again go on display even as his Inter Miami side fell to Paris Saint-Germain at the last-16 in the US
Paris Saint-Germain are the current Champions League holders and among the favourites to win the Club World Cup in the coming weeks. But despite the French side being a contender for the world's best team and winning 4-0 in the last-16 in the United States, it was not Luis Enrique's team drawing all of the attention on the pitch.
PSG established their advantage through two goals from Joao Neves, a Tomas Aviles own goal and an Achraf Hakimi effort before half-time and were able to take their foot off the gas in their latest clash in the United States. But come the final whistle it was players from France's capital who appeared to express their appreciation.
Lionel Messi was unable to prevent his former team walking away with victory against his Inter Miami side but found PSG's stars all coming to greet him come the full-time whistle. Of course, the Argentina legend has a relationship with many having only departed the Parc des Princes two years ago.
But the combination of friendly relationships and outright admiration was evident in warm embraces and conversations at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Atalanta, Georgia.
Messi recorded 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances for PSG but was unable to inspire the Champions League glory the current crop of stars achieved. That did not prevent Messi's pedigree proving most obvious on the field for what he'd achieved throughout his career, as much of PSG's side ensured they shared a moment with the former Barcelona star.
Leading Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembele posted photographs of the shirts of Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba before adding a shot with Messi's full kit and boots accompanied by an emoji with stars in its eyes.
The France international then posted a picture of Messi and himself inside of the stadium and left people under no illusion of his respect for the diminutive legend. "Good to see you again @leomessi, the greatest of all time. I hope you continue to make history with the @intermiamicf like in this World Club," Dembele said.
And Dembele was not alone in paying tribute to Messi alongside posting an image. Gianluigi Donnarumma said: "Always a pleasure seeing old friends."
Lucas Hernandez posted an image of their meeting on the field with a simple message: "Legend." And Khvicha Kvaratskhelia posted an image of their post-match hand clasp and said: "Sharing the pitch with you was a true pleasure!"
And while not everyone directly posted a caption about Messi, few avoided sharing pictures of him. Lucas Beraldo for example shared an aerial photograph of the pair and said: "Onto the quarterfinals! Excellent game against a team of fantastic players. Allez, @psg!!"
PSG next face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup, while Palmeiras take on Chelsea in the opposite side of the draw. Real Madrid face Juventus, Inter Milan play Fluminense, Manchester City battl against Al Hilal and Dortmund take on Monterrey in the remaining last-16 fixtures.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
3 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal's triple striker boost as 'discount' emerges and '£25.6m talks kick off'
Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers in recent weeks, and the Gunners have been handed a boost in their pursuit of three of their top targets Arsenal could be gearing up for an exciting summer, with developments pointing towards strengthening their frontline. The North London club has long been on the hunt for a top-tier striker, and it seems that striking a deal for targets Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, and Hugo Ekitike has just got a tad easier. Amidst the many players linked to the Emirates over recent weeks, it appears the club's hierarchy has a certain calibre of talent in mind, which spells good news for the Gunners faithful. Sporting CP star Gyokeres remains one of their targets, though he is also wanted by Manchester United and several other European clubs. While Sesko appears to be Mikel Arteta's preference, a deal for Gyokeres if far from off the cards. And In a turn of events that may excite the Gunners, Sporting president Frederico Varandas admitted at the weekend that he could be sold for cheaper than first thought. Varandas said: "Sporting is calm regarding this matter. Secondly, Sporting does not need to sell Viktor Gyokeres. Fortunately, we have moved past the phase of selling our main asset. However, we remain sensitive to Viktor's dreams or those of any other athlete. "Sporting has made a commitment that, after weeks of meetings, we will not demand the full amount of the clause; we will be reasonable regarding the amount requested for Viktor. Today, there is a strong likelihood that he will leave. "I won't disclose the amount, but the player knows what it is. I can say that Viktor will not leave for 60+10m. He won't leave, absolutely not." Initially, it was thought that Gyokeres wouldn't depart from the Portuguese team for less than £85million this summer, but that no longer seems to be the case. This price cut might lead to a change of thinking in Arteta's mind. Gyokeres scored an impressive 54 goals in all competitions last season - including six in the Champions League alone - and would be seen as a huge signing, just like Sesko. However, the RB Leipzig striker could also be on the move this summer at a discounted rate, following reports that the German club has also lowered its asking price for the 22-year-old. The young forward, who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season, is seen as a prime transfer target for Arteta, and the Spaniard will be thrilled by the latest developments with him. It was initially reported that Leipzig wanted between £68m and £85m for Sesko, which deterred other clubs from wanting to secure his services. However, it is now being suggested that a fee of £59.7m is all it would take for Arsenal to lure Sesko to the Premier League. Many believe Sesko is a better option over Gyokeres, given the age difference and the fact that the Bundesliga is considered a much tougher league than the Portuguese top flight. However, Arteta is still considering one more option who appears to be on his way out of his club. Ekitike, who scored 22 goals for Eintracht Frankfurt during the 2024/25 season, has attracted interest from other Premier League sides, including Liverpool, United, and Chelsea. However, Arsenal have now suddenly joined the race for the prolific Frenchman. GetFootball has reported that Frankfurt are nearing a deal for Union SG striker Franjo Ivanovic, who could cost around £25.6m. The 21-year-old is viewed as the ideal replacement for Ekitike, having scored 16 goals in Union SG's first league title win since 1935. Ekitike's departure from Germany seems increasingly likely, with the 23-year-old Frenchman expected to leave either this summer or next. Finding a replacement for him will no doubt make things easier for clubs wanting to negotiate with Frankfurt for their striker. However, Frankfurt are holding out for a hefty £85m fee, and reigning Premier League champions Liverpool are also keen, meaning he may well be the most complicated option out of the three forwards. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Sun
Real Madrid vs Juventus: Get £50 in free bets, plus 9/1 Bet Builder tips with Betfred
REAL MADRID and Juventus meet in a glamour Club World Cup last-16 tie on Tuesday night. So our team of betting experts have selected a Bet Builder for the blockbuster tie, which Betfred have priced up at 9/1. Not just that! New Betfred customers who register an account with Betfred and stake a tenner on football will receive £50 in sports free bets! Real Madrid vs Juventus tips Back our 9/1 Bet Builder Here's why we've made those selections.. Vinicius Jr to score: Opened his account in this competition with the opening goal last time out before an assist later in game. Given last quarter off for a breather so raring to go again. Best attacking outlet with Kylian Mbappe missing last three games with injury. Trent Alexander-Arnold 1+ shot on target: Perhaps signs he was starting to find feet when playing first full 90 minutes last time out and again has highlighted his attacking play far stronger than defensive. Juve gave up plenty of opportunities to Man City and could again here. Over 3.5 goals: Madrid have scored three goals in each of their last two games, while Juventus' last three games have had 5, 5 then 7 goals scored. Conceding five to Man City last time showed a real weakness there and this one could be very open. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – GambleAware – Read our guide on responsible gambling practices. For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. *New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.
-Portrait-of-a-Scottish-Terrier--Estimate-2-000-3000x.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
11 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Look inside the charming Scottish dog art auction that's creating an 'international buzz'
From pampered pugs to jowly bloodhounds, there's something for a devotee to every pedigree in The Dog Sale at the Edinburgh branch of auction house Bonhams. It takes place on July 23 from 2pm and features 149 lots, which mainly consist of paintings, though there are also pastels, sketches, bronzes and other artworks on offer, too. If you want a closer look, then Bonhams is open to those who want to view these items in advance, for the three days running up to the sale. We asked one of their specialists to tell us more about the forthcoming auction. Has Bonhams held a dog sale before? Absolutely, Bonhams has been holding dedicated Dog Sales for over 30 years now. That includes 15 years in London, then 15 years in New York, and more recently, for the past three years, in Edinburgh. There's such a timeless affection for dogs in art, so it always feels like the perfect time to bring one of these sales to auction. What has the interest been like so far? The Dog Sale consistently sparks fantastic interest from collectors around the world, and this year's auction is no exception; we're certainly seeing that same international buzz building already. It's quite exciting actually. In the last two sales, two-thirds of the value of the sale has been going to overseas buyers. That's not to say we don't have lots of buyers in the UK as well, it just becomes a very competitive environment. There's a lot of North American interest, the French seem to have quite an interest, but we do get bidders from as far away as China and Australia. Which lots do you think will generate the most interest? It's usually the rarer dog breeds or paintings by the most sought-after artists that tend to turn heads. That said, with a few weeks to go, it's still a little early to predict exactly which lots will steal the show, but there are certainly some exciting contenders. Who are the best-known artists in the sale? We're very lucky to be offering works by some of the best-known dog painters of the last two centuries. That includes John Emms, Maud Earl, Richard Ansdell, and Arthur Wardle, as well as a rare and rather magnificent painting by Eugène Verboeckhoven. What are the most contemporary works, and the oldest? The sale really spans the centuries — we've got pieces dating back to the 18th century, right through to works painted in the 2000s by living artists. It's a wonderful timeline, and it really shows the perennial interest and affection for dogs in art. Where have the lots come from? Any collectors of dog portraits? The lots have come from a wonderfully diverse range of sellers, including some passionate collectors who've dedicated years, even lifetimes, to building their dog art collections. Any personal favourite paintings that you'd like to take home? There are a few I'd happily make room for at home, but one that really stands out is Duke, by Eugène Verboeckhoven from the 19th century. It's a glorious picture of a magnificent and very smart King Charles spaniel, estimated at £15,000 to £20,000. Sumptuously painted, full of warmth, it really captures that unmistakable loyalty and comfort dogs bring. I think a lot of people will connect with it. The quality is incredible - it's painted on a wooden panel in oils and is in amazing condition, and almost flashy in a way, because it looks so fresh. The artist is better known for painting little pastoral panels of sheep and cows. To have a large scale dog painting from him is quite unusual. The only known one was a commission from Leopold I of Belgium, which was painted five years before. I just wonder if this one might be another commission and the reason I suggest that is because it's a very smart painting and would have cost a lot of money. There's the inclusion of the same ball, weirdly, and we know that this King Charles spaniel is called Duke, as its name is in the painting. That might make sense for someone who possessed 'duke' somewhere in their very long-winded list of royal titles. I'm speculating, but there's a chance. It's quite interesting and exciting to consider. Any Scottish artists included? Yes, a few, including a painting of a collie by George Steel and something by Robert Alexander, who was a Royal Scottish Academician. Any particular breeds that feature heavily? The variety is fantastic, we've got everything from large deerhounds, St Bernards, and setters to smaller, toy breeds like affenpinschers, spaniels, and the ever-charming dandie dinmonts. There's something for every dog lover. When it comes to dog paintings, the large majority of the value of a painting is in the specific breed and the look of the painting, and it's one of these sales that buyers fall in love with the image, and it doesn't matter who painted it. Why do you think people love dog portraits so much? Some buyers are devoted to a particular breed and love to collect works that celebrate it, while others simply enjoy surrounding themselves with images of dogs in general. Interestingly, a few paintings in this year's sale once belonged to Charlie Watts, drummer for The Rolling Stones, and judging by the collies featured in his collection, it's safe to say he had a soft spot for them. Any cat sales coming up? That's a question we do get asked from time to time! I think a cat sale would be great fun, but the reality is there simply aren't as many cat portraits out there compared to dogs, so we'd be looking at a much slimmer selection. For more information and to view the catalogue, see 2 . Eugène Verboeckhoven (Belgian, 1798-1881) Duke - a magnificent King Charles Spaniel Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo Sales 3 . Ada Eliza Tucker (British, exh. 1881-1928) A Yorkshire Terrier puppy £700 - 1,000 - cropped image Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo Sales 4 . John Emms (British, 1843-1912) On the scent - Foxhounds Rover, Sailor and Worker Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo Sales
