Imagine losing 4-0 in a Club World Cup match and yet the spotlight isn’t on the result itself but on what happens afterward.

That’s exactly what happened with Lionel Messi after Inter Miami’s heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

While many expected frustration or long faces from the Argentine superstar, number 10, Messi ended up creating one of those unforgettable moments that elevate football beyond mere scores.

We’re talking about the unexpected and heartfelt message Usmane Dembélé, his former Barcelona teammate and now a PSG star, dedicated to him.

Dembélé didn’t forget the man who made him shine so many times at Camp Nou.

The match had ended with PSG’s emphatic 4-0 victory.

For most, the story seemed over.

But in the tunnel—where cameras rarely reach but emotions do—an unforgettable scene unfolded that is now making the rounds worldwide.

Dembélé, clutching Messi’s jersey and holding the Argentine’s boots as prized treasures, approached Messi and spoke words no football fan can ignore:

“It’s so good to see you again, Leo, the greatest of all time.

I hope you keep making history with Inter Miami just like here in the Club World Cup.”

Amid the noise of Parisian celebrations and the silence of Inter Miami’s elimination, respect and admiration scored a different kind of goal.

Who would have imagined that one of the stars of the team that had just thrashed Inter Miami would end the game paying tribute to the opponent?

Let’s be honest: in a football world increasingly dominated by showmanship and gestures for the crowd, Dembélé’s act was a nod to the romanticism of the sport.

But it didn’t stop there.

Not only did “El Mosquito” take Messi’s jersey and boots, but he immediately shared the moment on social media with a message that, if anything, made crystal clear that for those who were by Leo’s side at Barça, respect is eternal.

“I’m very happy to have seen Messi, Jordi Alba, Suárez, Busquets, Mascherano, and even Pepe, whom I know.

It’s a pleasure to have met them again,” Dembélé said in a press conference afterward, as if the result was just a minor detail compared to these reunions.

Now, let’s pause for a moment.

Isn’t it curious how a match that seemed scripted—PSG dominating Inter Miami—ended up reminding us what truly matters in football?
Sure, Inter Miami got eliminated, no doubt about that.

But who really wins when the cameras turn off?
The team that scored four goals or the player who, even in defeat, receives the embrace and genuine recognition of his peers without needing trophies or stats?

That’s where Messi’s legacy weighs heavily again.

It’s not just what he did on the pitch, but what he represents to those who saw him up close—those who shared training sessions, victories, and defeats.

And here’s where I want to open another door for you.

From this moment on, the story changes tone, though the intensity remains intact.

This wasn’t just a nice post-match anecdote; it reflected something much deeper.

Messi, even in a team fighting to establish itself among the elite, remains the player who commands respect—even from those who just beat him.

And that, in modern football, is a privilege very few enjoy.

How many players can say that after being thrashed, the opponent doesn’t mock or boast but seeks their jersey as if it were a trophy?

Dembélé’s gesture is, at its core, a snapshot of a Messi who continues to write his story through talent but also through the impact he leaves on others.

Because football, no matter how much we’re told it’s just numbers, titles, and rankings, remains above all a game of people.

Messi, beyond his goals, remains that guy who leaves a mark on everyone he crosses paths with.

So who really won last night?
The PSG that routed Inter Miami or Messi, who left the pitch once again as a symbol admired even by his conquerors?

I’ll close with this: if there’s one thing this encounter between Messi and Dembélé reminds us, it’s what football can be when played for real—when respect transcends the result.

What do you think?
Was Dembélé’s gesture authentic or just another post-match show?
I’m reading your comments.

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In my opinion, what happened between Dembélé and Messi after PSG’s 4-0 win over Inter Miami is far more than an isolated gesture between a player and his ex-teammate.

It’s, deep down, a mirror reflecting what Lionel Messi still means to his peers and to football in general—even in adverse contexts.

Let’s think for a second: Messi was just eliminated from the Club World Cup decisively.

His team, far from PSG’s level, couldn’t even contest the match.

Yet the focus of the final scene wasn’t the scoreline, the goals, or PSG’s progression to the next round.

It was that moment when Dembélé naturally and respectfully approached him, embraced him, and called him the greatest of all time.

What does that say about Messi’s place in history and in the present?

First, it reveals something we often forget amid tactical analyses and stats: Messi transcends competitive football.

His figure is already a symbol.

It doesn’t matter if he plays for PSG, Barcelona, or Inter Miami—the footballers who shared the pitch with him know his career isn’t measured just by titles or yesterday’s match.

That’s what Dembélé wanted to highlight.

Because let’s be honest, how many players after a 4-0 loss stick around the locker room to seek the greeting and jersey of the rival who just eliminated them?
This isn’t marketing or protocol—it’s genuine admiration from a colleague who lived daily with the genius and understood what it meant to see him train, play, and lead.

Now, this kind of scene also makes us reflect on the brutal contrast between the Messi still revered in football’s inner circle and the Messi sometimes questioned by public critics.

Because we mustn’t forget, while his peers pay tribute, there are still sectors trying to diminish him, judging him by one match or an isolated result.

Do they really think Messi’s legacy can be tarnished by a single Club World Cup elimination?
Are we really going to ignore all he represents and continues to generate among his colleagues, the public, and the very history of the sport?

Here’s where I want to open another reflection: Dembélé’s gesture was a small reminder of what football can be at its best.

A sport where respect for greatness isn’t lost even in the great’s defeat or the underdog’s triumph.

Where bonds formed between players are stronger than the noise of social media or newspaper headlines.

Where an authentic gesture means more than any empty analysis.

Because what we saw yesterday was exactly that—pure respect between two footballers who, beyond clubs or results, recognize each other for what they were and what they are.

That’s why I say: beyond the 4-0, beyond PSG’s progression or Inter Miami’s tournament exit, what will remain in memory is that image of “El Mosquito” taking Messi’s jersey, posting that message on social media, and reminding the world who the Argentine is in the hearts of those who know him closely.

And no, it’s no coincidence this happens with Messi.

These scenes aren’t manufactured—they’re earned.

Earned with years of talent, humility, silent leadership, and gestures both on and off the pitch.

So next time someone wants to judge Messi only by the scoreboard of a single match, show them this story and ask: how many players provoke this, even on the day they lose?

That’s what makes him a true great.

And you?

Do you think Messi’s legacy is strengthened by these gestures or do you believe what happens on the pitch during the 90 minutes is what really matters?