Paris Saint-Germain dismantled Inter Miami with a 4-0 victory in the Round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, held at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 29, 2025. The match, highly anticipated due to Lionel Messi’s reunion with his former club, showcased PSG’s relentless attacking flair and tactical superiority, leaving the MLS side struggling to keep pace.
From the opening whistle, PSG asserted dominance. João Neves set the tone early, heading in a pinpoint cross from Vitinha in the sixth minute to give the French champions a 1-0 lead. The Parisian midfield, orchestrated by Fabián Ruiz and Vitinha, overwhelmed Inter Miami’s aging core, with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba unable to match the intensity. PSG’s high pressing and fluid movement exposed Miami’s defensive frailties, particularly in the first half, where the game was effectively decided.
Neves struck again in the 39th minute, capitalizing on a well-worked move involving Bradley Barcola and Fabián Ruiz to tap in from close range. Just four minutes later, Inter Miami’s woes deepened when a PSG corner resulted in an own goal, credited to Miami’s Tomás Avilés, who inadvertently redirected the ball into his own net. The final blow came in first-half stoppage time when Achraf Hakimi unleashed a powerful strike, leaving goalkeeper Oscar Ustari helpless and PSG leading 4-0 at the break.
Inter Miami, despite featuring stars like Messi, Luis Suárez, and Busquets, struggled to find rhythm. Messi, captaining the Herons, showed flashes of brilliance, creating a couple of chances in the second half, but PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was rarely tested, with his first touch not coming until the 20th minute. Miami’s improved second-half showing, including a deflected shot from Messi that earned a corner, was too little too late, as PSG comfortably managed the game with substitutions like Warren Zaïre-Emery and Lucas Beraldo.
The statistics underscored PSG’s dominance: 67% possession, 19 total shots with nine on target, and an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.49 compared to Miami’s 0.38. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a constant threat, tested Miami’s defense with a powerful shot just over the bar, while Tadeo Allende’s long-range effort for Miami sailed harmlessly over. PSG’s tactical discipline under coach Luis Enrique, a familiar face to Messi from their Barcelona days, ensured no comeback was possible.
For Inter Miami, the match highlighted the gap between MLS and Europe’s elite. Despite their historic run as the first MLS team to reach the Club World Cup knockout stage, Miami’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, particularly in the critical six minutes before halftime, as noted by analyst Don Hutchison. Messi, now 38, remained a focal point but couldn’t replicate his earlier tournament heroics, such as his stunning free-kick against Porto.
PSG advances to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the Bayern Munich versus Flamengo match. The Parisian juggernaut, fresh off their UEFA Champions League triumph, continues to look unstoppable, with Neves’ brace and Hakimi’s clinical finishing signaling their intent. For Inter Miami, the dream of a deep Club World Cup run ends, but their journey to the Round of 16 remains a landmark achievement for the young club.