Lionel Messi endured a painful return to face his former side as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) cruised to a commanding 4-0 victory over Inter Miami in their FIFA Club World Cup last-16 encounter in Atlanta.
The highly anticipated encounter saw Messi face his former club for the first time, but the night belonged entirely to PSG, who showcased their quality from the opening whistle.
Despite Inter Miami’s unbeaten run in the group stage, they were quickly reminded of the European champions’ pedigree. PSG looked sharper, faster, and more clinical in every department.
The French giants opened the scoring in just the sixth minute. João Neves was left completely unmarked at the far post and made no mistake with a header from Vitinha’s deep-set free-kick. That goal set the tone for the night as Miami’s defence struggled to contain wave after wave of PSG attacks.
Javier Mascherano’s side tried to remain compact and limit further damage, but a late first-half collapse saw PSG run riot. Fabián Ruiz was instrumental in the second goal, intercepting a loose ball before linking up with Bradley Barcola. The quick one-two created space, and Ruiz squared it for Neves to score his second goal of the match with ease.
Moments later, disaster struck again for the Herons. Tomás Avilés inadvertently turned Désiré Doué’s low cross into his own net, extending PSG’s lead to 3-0. Inter Miami barely had time to regroup before Achraf Hakimi added a fourth. His initial strike came back off the crossbar, but the fullback reacted quickly to bury the rebound and cap a devastating nine-minute spell.
PSG Inter Miami#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/pBVGQSeAeJ
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 29, 2025
At half-time, the scoreboard read 4-0, with Inter Miami looking dejected and overrun. Messi, visibly frustrated, tried to rally his teammates in the second half but found little support in the final third.
In the 63rd minute, Messi registered Miami’s first shot on target, but it was a weak attempt gathered easily by Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Argentine later had a better opportunity when he connected with a header inside the box, but Donnarumma was alert to keep it out.
PSG eased off in the second half, clearly content with their lead, yet still posed danger. Barcola continued to cause problems and almost added a fifth with a deflected shot that dropped onto the roof of the net.
Inter Miami, despite trying to maintain possession and push forward, lacked cohesion and urgency. Messi remained the focal point of their attack, but he was well-marshalled by PSG’s backline, led by the ever-reliable Marquinhos.
The defeat brings Inter Miami’s Club World Cup journey to a painful end. They struggled to cope with PSG’s intensity and technical superiority, particularly in midfield where Vitinha, Ruiz, and Neves dictated the tempo with ease.
For PSG, it was a clinical statement of intent. Luis Enrique’s side will now remain in Atlanta, where they await a quarter-final showdown against either Flamengo or Bayern Munich. The French champions are chasing their first Club World Cup title and will head into the next round full of confidence.
READ NEXT:
