Paris Saint-Germain's inner circle woke up with a soccer hangover after a night marked by the reunion of old glories and the unstoppable brilliance of the European champion. PSG showed their superiority in the Club World Cup round of 16 against Inter Miami, sealing an overwhelming 4-0 win. The result left little doubt about the dominance of the team led by Luis Enrique, who once again crossed paths with several former Barça players now on the North American team: Leo Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Mascherano.
The match had a special appeal. On one hand, there was the symbolic revenge of Luis Enrique, PSG's coach, facing his former pupils. On the other, there was the expectation to see if Leo Messi, surrounded by old teammates, was able to shine against the reigning European champion and recent treble winner. However, the night ended in disappointment for the Argentine star, who couldn't connect with the game or prevent his team's resounding defeat.
Roncero uses irony against Messi after the European thrashing
Messi's performance was quickly analyzed in the main sports media outlets. The discussion heated up on El Chiringuito, where Tomás Roncero starred in one of the most talked-about moments of the day. The panelist, true to his provocative style, used irony and sarcasm to question Messi's role on big European nights.
Roncero, far from making a technical critique, resorted to sarcasm to review Messi's major defeats in European competitions: "When Messi touches a ball, it's another dimension. He's lost 4-0 in that dimension. Liverpool beat him 4-0 in that dimension. Bayern Munich put 8 past him in that dimension. Manolas's Roma beat him 3-0 in that dimension. Cholo's Atleti knocked him out twice in that dimension. In that dimension, Mbappé's PSG knocked him out with a hat trick at Camp Nou. That's what's great about Messi, since he's in another dimension every time he touches the ball, he doesn't realize what's happening to his team. They concede 4, they concede 8, they concede who knows what, but he's in another dimension and you can't say anything to him. That's what's cool about Messi, he's immune like the Wolf. Eternally happy in his happy world with "flower power." In next year's World Cup, if Argentina concede four, they'll be knocked out in another dimension and Messi will be eternal."
This speech, which spread across social media during the early hours, reflects the fatigue of some media sectors with the tendency to justify any of Messi's performances, even when the results are unfavorable and the Argentine goes unnoticed in key matches.
The debate over Messi's legacy and tough nights
Messi's figure has always been linked to excellence and records, but also to some painful eliminations in Europe. Roncero's references to the defeats against Liverpool, Bayern, Roma, Atlético, and PSG reignite a debate that has followed the Argentine for years: Is he protected by his legendary status or should he be judged as harshly as other stars?
During the show, Lobo Carrasco defended Messi, emphasizing his talent and unique history in soccer. However, the reality is that the match against PSG once again showed a less influential Messi, outmatched by the opponent's pace and pressure. The goals from Joao Neves (2), Hakimi, and the own goal decided the match before halftime, leaving Inter Miami with no answer.
The disappointment was twofold because more was desired from the US team in their first major world tournament. Meanwhile, PSG strengthened their status as title favorites and showed that the gap between the European champion and the MLS representative remains huge.