Messi showed he is still a man of moments in this US tournament, not least with his free-kick goal against Porto in the group stage.
PSG eased up in the second half after netting four times in the first period and that allowed Messi several moments as Inter Miami saw a lot more of the ball.
A great cushioned ball over the top gave Suarez an excellent chance but the striker’s first touch let him down.
“That’s the touch of the tournament from Lionel Messi,” said Dazn pundit Don Hutchison, the ex-Scotland midfielder.
“The weight of pass to knock it over the defender with perfect weight and precision – it’s a shame Suarez couldn’t finish the move off because that was genius from Messi.”
Messi had a shot blocked, hit that free-kick into the wall and had a couple of shots saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The first was when he glided past a couple of defenders into the box before shooting – and the second was a header – reminiscent of his 2009 Champions League final goal for Barcelona against Manchester United.
“I think Leo played a great game, within the options we had,” said his boss – and former Barcelona team-mate – Mascherano.
“In the second half, we found him much more. In the first half, we couldn’t due to Paris’s pressure.”
It feels as if this will be his final match likely to be watched around the world – well, of those supporters watching this Marmite Fifa Club World Cup.
If he stays at Inter Miami it is likely to just be, at club level, North American matches from here on in.
This tournament is not due to be played again until 2029, when Messi will be 42. Surely not…
