Paris Saint-Germain delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in the Club World Cup on June 29, 2025, securing their place in the quarter-finals. The European champions outclassed Miami’s ageing stars, despite fervent fan support at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
PSG asserted control early, with João Neves scoring in the sixth minute, heading in a Vitinha free-kick after a foul on Desire Doue. Miami struggled to involve Messi, and PSG capitalised on errors. In the 39th minute, Fabian Ruiz dispossessed Sergio Busquets, setting up Neves for his second goal. Moments later, Tomas Aviles’ own goal from Doue’s cross made it 3-0. Achraf Hakimi sealed the first half with a rebound strike, putting PSG firmly in command at 4-0.
PSG destroy and eliminate Inter Miami from the Club World Cup in the round of 16 😳 pic.twitter.com/wU8qpTPkdo
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 29, 2025Despite a 66,000-strong crowd chanting for Messi, Inter Miami couldn’t bridge the quality gap. Messi’s brilliant pass to Luis Suarez early in the second half yielded no goal, and his low shot forced a save from Gianluigi Donnarumma. A free-kick opportunity hit PSG’s wall, underscoring Miami’s struggles. Jordi Alba reflected positively, noting Miami exceeded expectations by topping their group, but acknowledged PSG’s superiority, especially in the first half.
These Atlanta fans mocked Lionel Messi at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as Inter Miami lost 4-0 to PSG in the Club World Cup 🫣❌ pic.twitter.com/Tmsyy3qUGu
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) June 29, 2025João Neves’ brace highlighted PSG’s depth, with Hakimi and Ruiz also pivotal. Ousmane Dembele, returning from injury, showed rustiness, as coach Luis Enrique noted the team’s serious approach. Inter Miami’s Messi, Suarez, Busquets, and Alba fought valiantly but lacked precision in their attacks. PSG now faces either Bayern Munich or Flamengo in Atlanta on July 5, 2025, aiming for a spot in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup.
PSG’s rout of Inter Miami highlights the competitive disparity between European giants and MLS teams, even with stars like Messi. The match highlights PSG’s title ambitions and sets up an exciting quarter-final, captivating global football fans. It also reflects the challenges aging players face against younger, dynamic teams.
