Despite concerns over ticket sales and player fatigue, FIFAs new expanded Club World Cup will throw up several intriguing storylines this summer in the United States.
AFP Sport picks five things to look out for on the pitch as teams compete to conquer the world and claim their share of 1 billion in prize money.
Messi back in the spotlightFormer Barcelona great Lionel Messi has spent the last two seasons at MLS side Inter Miami but the Club World Cup pits him against European opposition once again.
The 37-year-old superstar still possesses supreme quality but there are question marks over whether he and former top level stars Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets can seriously compete against the cream of the crop.
Inter Miami face Porto in their second group match in Atlanta, a team Messi has faced once before, beating them with Barca in the UEFA Super Cup back in 2011.