FIFA Club World Cup 2025: PSG Run Riot Against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami
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Joao Neves netted a brace before Thomas Aviles turned the ball into his own net. Achraf Hakimi added PSG's fourth to complete a 4-0 win over the MLS side.
European champions PSG outclassed MLS side Inter Miami in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on Sunday with a 4-0 triumph over Lionel Messi's side.
Joao Neves netted a brace before Thomas Aviles found the wrong end of the net. Achraf Hakimi added PSG's fourth.
Miami was hopeful that the magic of the Argentine superstar could help them achieve an unlikely result against his former team, but the Major League Soccer side was dismantled in Atlanta by Luis Enrique's dominant European champions.
The aging Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba had done well to reach the last 16, but the quality gap between the teams was clear over the 90 minutes.
Joao Neves scored twice for PSG, who also benefitted from a Tomas Aviles own goal, while Achraf Hakimi found the back of the net as well.
After Neves opened the scoring early, Miami held out until PSG scored three goals in 10 minutes towards the end of the first half.
Messi was the main attraction, with fans chanting his name, and most of the 66,000-strong crowd were dressed in Miami's hot pink, with a few Argentina shirts mixed in.
PSG dominated from the start, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia drifting into the box and setting up Bradley Barcola, but Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari denied him with an outstretched leg.
Vitinha delivered a free-kick to the back post where Portuguese midfielder Neves, left completely unmarked, stooped to nod past Ustari after six minutes.
PSG's Fabian Ruiz had a goal disallowed for offside before Miami defender Noah Allen limped off injured, further hindering Javier Mascherano's side.
With the Ligue 1 champions pressing high and maintaining possession, Miami struggled to get Messi involved. The 38-year-old Argentine superstar played a superbly weighted pass down the right flank for Tadeo Allende, but a rare Miami break came to nothing. Messi's occasional interventions were not enough to stem the Parisian tide.
PSG doubled their lead in the 39th minute when veteran holding midfielder Busquets made a mistake in front of his own box.
Spanish compatriot Ruiz quickly dispossessed him and combined with Barcola to set up Neves for his second goal.
PSG's third came when Aviles deflected Doue's cross into his own net, and Hakimi scored the fourth before half-time, putting PSG out of reach.
The Moroccan international's first effort was deflected onto the crossbar, but he stayed alert at the air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium to fire home the rebound.
Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi lost his temper with a swipe at Vitinha, expressing his frustration at the midfielder, Miami's impotence, and PSG's dominance.
Messi made an excellent pass for Suarez early in the second half, chipping the ball over the PSG defence, but the Uruguayan could not finish to give Miami a lifeline.
Despite the improbability of a comeback—there would be no repeat of Luis Enrique's Barcelona comeback in 2017 against PSG from four goals down, in which Messi and Suarez both scored—the Argentine was determined to exit with a flourish.
Messi forced a save from PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma after the hour mark with a low shot.
Luis Enrique brought on winger Ousmane Dembele for his first appearance of the tournament after a hamstring injury, but the Frenchman was rusty and inaccurate.
When Suarez was fouled by Lucas Beraldo on the edge of the box, Messi had a chance to replicate his free-kick winner against Porto in the group stage, but his effort hit the wall.
It was not to be for Messi or Miami, but their second-half performance was respectable, and the defeat was by a smaller margin than PSG's 5-0 Champions League final thrashing of Inter Milan.
First Published:
June 29, 2025, 23:45 IST
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