As the FIFA Club World Cup enters its knockout phase, all eyes are on Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, whose contrasting narratives are shaping the tournament's drama. Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso remains tight-lipped about Mbappé's availability for Tuesday's clash against Juventus, following the French star's absence from all group-stage matches due to acute gastroenteritis.
Despite returning to training, Mbappé was notably excluded from Madrid's 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg. Alonso emphasized the forward's importance to the team while prioritizing his recovery. The uncertainty comes amid Mbappé's ongoing legal dispute with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) over alleged unpaid wages and workplace conditions.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's new signing Liam Delap made waves with his debut goal against Esperance de Tunis, securing their knockout spot. The 30 million-pound striker from Ipswich Town has filled the void left by Nicolas Jackson's suspension ahead of Saturday's match against Benfica.
The tournament's marquee matchup arrives Sunday when Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami against his former club PSG. The clash marks Messi's first encounter with PSG since his 2023 departure and reunites him with former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, now at PSG's helm. Despite Miami's underdog status, the emotional stakes are high as Messi faces the club where he spent two seasons.
With the revamped Club World Cup serving as FIFA's latest bid to globalize soccer, these high-profile storylines could determine the tournament's success in capturing worldwide attention.
