The trio of Inter Miami megastars might not be smiling for too much longer
ROY Keane got to meet Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba...but not Lionel Messi while visiting Inter Miami's facility.
The Corkman has jetted stateside to take in the knockout stages of the inaugural - and controversial - Club World Cup.
The MLS outfit have a daunting last-16 match-up ahead of them against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
But at least Keane got to meet some of their most recognisable squad members while they're still in the competition and still in chipper form.
Aside from a few followers noting he's bearing quite a resemblance to Mel Gibson these days thanks to his white beard, most of the comments connected to the Instagram post centred on one man who wasn't featured.
Shane reckoned: "Must be disappointed to not meet Messi."
While Curtis suggested: "Could use him against PSG tbh...to keep them straight."
Sean hailed: "The best Irish player of all time."
And finally, someone else surmised en Espanol: "Roy livin la vida buena."
Messi is set to face his former club in the knockout stages of the Club World Cup - and, like many reunions with old colleagues, it may not end well.
Inter Miami - sixth in the MLS Eastern Conference - face a formidable challenge against the Ligue 1 giants.
Luis Enrique’s PSG began their campaign in style with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid.
However, they appeared to lose momentum in a surprise defeat to Brazilian side Botafogo, and looked far from their fluent best in a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field.
Now into the knockout rounds, PSG are expected to find another gear, with a potential quarter-final clash against either Flamengo or Bayern Munich looming.
The bookmakers clearly agree, pricing the Parisian giants at 1/6 to win in 90 minutes, while Jordi Alba described PSG as “the best team in the world right now”.
As for Inter Miami, they came close to topping Group A but conceded two late goals against Palmeiras, setting up this tough tie. It would have been Botafogo otherwise.
ABOUT TO GET MESSI?
Still, they have shown they can compete at this level - sandwiching a win over Porto between draws against Palmeiras and Al Ahly.
The Florida-based side are unbeaten in six matches across all competitions, scoring 16 goals in that stretch - a solid run of form but unlikely to trouble their imperious opponents.
Sorry if it sounds disparaging to all those Inter Miami supporters out there - but this could easily be a cricket score providing PSG can snap out of their two-game malaise.
And they should be able to.
The European champions looked a completely different class during their Champions League success, and their 5-0 final win over Inter Milan only highlights their ability to humble even the best.
Suarez and Messi, both aged 38, should have their work cut out against such a young, quick, powerful and dynamic PSG side.
Inter Miami have also shipped a colossal 29 goals in their last 13 games in all competitions. PSG, meanwhile, have scored 3+ goals in five of their last seven games.