The Herons will kickoff the 2025 Club World Cup Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium vs Al Ahly

The day before Inter Miami’s debut at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where they will face Al Ahly Saturday in the tournament opener, Lionel Messi admitted that he’s approaching this edition with a different kind of expectation compared to when he played with previous teams.

"It’s a beautiful tournament. It’s exciting to be here, to play in it," he said. "But it’s with a different mindset than when I played it with other teams. Still, I’m full of energy and hope, looking forward to competing against the best and performing well."

The Argentine star also highlighted the significance of this year’s tournament, which for the first time features 32 teams in a new format - with includes a group stage and knockout rounds - in the U.S.

"It’s a great opportunity for South American teams and for clubs from all over the world to face European powerhouses, those big clubs that are global benchmarks and home to the best players," he said. "It’ll be a special experience, both for the players involved and the fans in the stadium."

Messi, arguably the greatest player ever, knows he’ll experience this Club World Cup in a different way. No longer at the peak of his career, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will take part in his fourth Club World Cup, a tournament he won three times with Barcelona.

This time, he’ll represent Inter Miami, fully aware that the competition features global powerhouses like PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Inter Milan, and others.

Messi, a Club World Cup veteran, previously won the tournament with Barcelona in 2009, 2011, and 2015. However, he acknowledged that this time, the challenge with Inter Miami looks far more daunting. Miami are one of three MLS clubs participating in the CWC, along with the Seattle Sounders and LAFC.