Paris Saint-Germain stormed into the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday night, thrashing Inter Miami 4-0 in a dominant first-half performance that left Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and their experienced teammates stunned and eliminated.
The much-anticipated clash saw former Barcelona stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets reunite in Inter Miami colors, hoping to roll back the years on the global stage.
But the reigning European champions, PSG, had other plans — and wasted no time in asserting their dominance.
João Neves opened the scoring in just the 6th minute with a spectacular diving header that silenced the Miami supporters.
He doubled PSG’s lead in the 39th minute, finishing off a slick attacking move with clinical precision. Things went from bad to worse for the MLS side when defender Tomás Avilés inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 44th minute, making it 3-0.
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Right before halftime, Achraf Hakimi added the fourth with a thunderous strike in stoppage time (45+3), capping off a ruthless first half from the Parisians.
Despite a spirited second-half effort, Inter Miami failed to find a breakthrough. Messi, facing his former French club, came closest with a trademark free kick, but PSG’s defense stood tall — denying him and his team any hopes of a comeback.
The second half offered little change as PSG comfortably managed the game, showcasing their depth and discipline. Inter Miami’s dream of Club World Cup glory ended abruptly, leaving fans wondering whether age and fatigue had caught up with their legendary core.
PSG will now turn their attention to the quarterfinals, brimming with confidence after a statement performance.