Paris Saint-Germain delivered a commanding performance to dismantle Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 in the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, held at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The French champions showcased their dominance early and never let up, securing their place in the quarterfinals with ruthless efficiency.
Joao Neves was the star of the show, netting two well-timed goals that set the tone for PSG's dominance. The opening goal came at the 6-minute mark when Vitinha delivered a precise free kick to the far post, where Neves, unmarked and rising above the defense, powered a header past Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. This early breakthrough was a statement of intent from PSG, who immediately took control of the match.
Inter Miami, led by the legendary Lionel Messi and featuring former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, struggled to find their rhythm against the relentless pressure and tactical discipline of Luis Enrique's side. Miami's hopes took another hit when defender Noah Allen was forced off due to injury just 18 minutes into the game, with Tomás Avilés coming on as his replacement. Unfortunately for Miami, Avilés was shown a yellow card soon after entering the pitch and later compounded Miami's woes by scoring an own goal in the 44th minute, further extending PSG's lead.
PSG doubled their advantage in the 39th minute through Neves once again. A high pressing move forced a turnover by Fabián Ruiz, who combined with Bradley Barcola before finding Neves in the box. The Portuguese midfielder calmly tapped in the ball, showcasing PSG's clinical edge in front of goal. The French side's third goal, the own goal by Avilés, came shortly before halftime, followed by a fourth from Achraf Hakimi in stoppage time. Hakimi’s goal was a testament to his alertness, firing in a rebound after his initial shot was deflected onto the crossbar.
Despite the heavy deficit, Messi tried to spark a revival in the second half. He delivered a brilliant through ball to Luis Suarez at the 49th minute, but the Uruguayan striker failed to capitalize on the golden chance, missing what could have been a lifeline for Miami. Later, Messi's header was expertly saved by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, and a free-kick effort struck the wall, denying Miami any momentum. PSG, meanwhile, managed their energy with substitutions, bringing on Ousmane Dembele for Neves and later Lee Kang-In and Lucas Hernández, maintaining control without conceding any threat.
PSG's tactical superiority was evident throughout the match. Their midfield trio, led by Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabián Ruiz, maintained relentless pressure, forcing turnovers and dictating play. The defensive line, marshaled by Marquinhos before being replaced by Lucas Beraldo at halftime, kept Miami's attackers at bay. The high press and quick transitions left Miami chasing shadows for much of the game.
Inter Miami's player ratings reflected their struggles. Messi, normally the talismanic figure, was rated a disappointing 3 out of 10, with critics noting his reluctance to take on defenders and an over-reliance on simple passes. Luis Suarez fared even worse with a rating of 2, marred by poor first touches and misplaced passes. Defensively, Marcelo Weigandt and Tomas Avilés were singled out for their inability to cope with PSG’s pace and pressure, with Avilés receiving a particularly harsh rating due to his early yellow card and own goal. Oscar Ustari, Miami’s goalkeeper, earned a modest 5 for some crucial saves that prevented an even more lopsided scoreline.
PSG coach Luis Enrique praised his team’s performance, stating, "It was an almost perfect match, we created a lot of chances, and I'm happy yet I think we still need to improve, that's football." Meanwhile, Miami coach Javier Mascherano acknowledged the gulf in class but expressed pride in his players’ efforts: "Today you could see the difference in class, but football has given us the chance to compete. This is probably the best team in the world with a great coach, but we took them on." The match was officiated by Brazilian referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio, supported by assistant referees Bruno Boschilia and Bruno Pires, with Mustapha Ghorbal as the fourth official. VAR duties were handled by Nicolas Gallo and his team.
The atmosphere at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was electric, with approximately 66,000 fans in attendance. Most were clad in Inter Miami's signature hot pink, passionately chanting Messi’s name throughout the match, despite the overwhelming dominance of PSG. The stadium, known for hosting major sporting events, provided a fitting stage for this clash of titans.
PSG's victory sends them into the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the upcoming match between Bayern Munich and Flamengo. The French side's clinical display and tactical mastery position them as strong contenders to lift the Club World Cup trophy.
While Inter Miami's journey in the tournament ends here, their progression to the Round of 16 and the experience gained against one of the world's best clubs will fuel their ambitions moving forward. For PSG, the emphatic 4-0 win is a clear message that they remain a dominant force in world football, blending youthful talent like Joao Neves with experienced stars such as Hakimi and Dembele.
As the Club World Cup progresses, all eyes will be on PSG to see if they can maintain this level of performance and bring home silverware to Paris. Meanwhile, Inter Miami will look to regroup and build on their achievements, inspired by the lessons learned on this challenging night in Atlanta.
