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Lionel Messi crossed paths with future Chelsea star Estevao Willian at the Club World Cup on Monday. The pair lined up on opposite sides as Inter Miami faced Palmeiras at the Hard Rock Stadium. A 2-2 draw was enough to see both clubs into the last 16 as the top two in group A. However, Messi was forced to settle for second place after the MLS outfit surrendered a two-goal lead. Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez had appeared to put Miami on course for victory before late goals from Paulinho and Mauricio levelled the match. It was Messi's interaction with Estevao which caught the eye, though. Following the end of the first half, the pair linked up on their way down the tunnel. Footage showed Estevao swapping shirts with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner at half-time. The 18-year-old winger has already been compared to Messi by fans and pundits. His nickname 'Messinho' translates to 'Little Messi', with the duo finally facing each other on Monday. It comes ahead of Estevao's long-awaited Chelsea arrival at the end of the tournament. The Blues agreed a deal to sign the Brazilian international last summer. He will join the club having scored 26 goals in 81 senior appearances for Palmeiras. Estevao has also already won five caps for Brazil since making his debut in September. The forward has featured in all three of Palmeiras' Club World Cup fixtures so far, with a last 16 clash against Botafogo next on Saturday. Meanwhile, Messi and Miami will face Paris Saint-Germain after finishing second in the group. Manager Javier Mascherano is looking forward to the challenge, admitting: "We've achieved the goal we set for ourselves at the start of this tournament, which was to qualify for the round of 16. "Despite the fact we're facing arguably the best team in Europe, the Champions League winners, we'll try to approach it with the same humility and the same seriousness. "If there's one thing this sport has shown us, it's that anything can happen in a match. " Their knockout clash with PSG will take place in Atlanta on Sunday. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited
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