LIONEL MESSI was left shell-shocked in front of injured Inter Miami owner David Beckham at the Club World Cup.
Messi saw himself 4-0 down at half-time against his former club Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Joao Neves scored the first two goals, heading home unmarked inside six minutes before finishing off a lovely team move in the 39th minute.
And Inter Miami’s naive hopes of a miracle were soon dashed when Tomas Aviles‘ own goal saw the MLS side capitulate on the stroke of half-time.
Meanwhile, Achraf Hakimi piled on the misery with a low finish from 10 yards in the third minute of first-half injury time, after Luis Suarez squandered a big chance for Miami.
As the Moroccan full-back, widely regarded as the best in the world in his position was celebrating, Messi looked up to the scoreboard in complete disbelief.
And while Beckham was celebrating his former club’s Champions League win in Germany last month, reality hit him in the face during Miami’s battering.
Becks rocked up to the game wearing a sturdy blue sling matching his suit, after undergoing wrist surgery last week.
Meanwhile, Messi, 38, was sent a brutal warning by the French press ahead of his reunion with PSG on Sunday.
French newspaper L’Equipe plastered a picture of the Argentine legend on the front page with the tagline: “Messi… not all is forgiven.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner left PSG in 2023 on a free transfer once his contract in the French capital expired.
During his time with the club, he formed one-third of the exciting attacking trio alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
But, he wasn’t a fan favourite in France, as PSG failed to secure the Champions League trophy despite having the most prolific front three in Europe.
He caused further upset in the country as he played a crucial role in France’s World Cup heartbreak in 2022.
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