Lionel Messi experienced bitter disappointment in his first game against a former club, as a rampant Paris Saint-Germain side dismantled Inter Miami with a scintillating first-half display to ease to a 4-0 victory in the Club World Cup (CWC) last-16 tie in Atlanta.
2025 Club World Cup
4-0
Match Report
The Floridians may have enjoyed an unbeaten group stage, but they came into this contest as the clear underdogs against the European champions.
The gulf in quality was clear to see when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia easily drove through the Miami backline, before laying the ball off for Bradley Barcola to force Oscar Ustari into early action.
The Herons failed to take heed of that warning sign, as they shipped a sixth-minute opener from a poorly defended free-kick. João Neves was allowed to make an unchallenged run around the back to steer a header home from Vitinha’s deep free-kick.
Neves bagged his first-ever brace for PSGALEX GRIMM / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP / Profimedia / Statsperform
Javier Mascherano’s side appeared to be on course to keep the deficit to one in the first period, until the French champions launched a destructive onslaught in the closing stages of the half.
Fabián Ruiz played a key role in PSG doubling their advantage, stealing the ball high up the pitch, before neatly exchanging it with Barcola, and playing it across for Neves to tap in his second.
Matters got worse for Messi and co when substitute Tomás Avilés diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper from Désiré Doué’s drilled cross, shortly before Achraf Hakimi tucked the ball home after his initial effort thumped the crossbar, registering PSG’s third goal in a nine-minute whirlwind for Miami.
With only pride to play for in the second half, the MLS side finally registered their first shot on target just after the hour mark, as Messi saw his tame effort comfortably gathered by Gianluigi Donnarumma at the near post.
Luis Enrique’s charges showed mercy as they took their foot off the pedal as the game wore on, although Barcola still threatened with a deflected effort that looped onto the roof of the net.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Donnarumma made a strong stop to keep out Messi’s downward header, denying the Argentine the seventh CWC goal of his illustrious career.
Match statsStatsperform
The Herons ultimately failed to get on the scoresheet as their CWC journey came to a difficult end, while PSG will stay in Atlanta for a quarter-final meeting against Flamengo or Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Kvaratskhelia breaks into the box and passes to Doue but the effort is blocked
6' GOAL! Neves heads home to open the scoring early! PSG 1-0 Inter Miami
12' Highlight from PSG vs Inter Miami CF
14' Barcola heads to Fabian Ruiz but the midfielder's goal is ruled offside
18' Noah Allen is replaced by Aviles because of his injury
20' Hakimi's attempt in the box is blocked by the defender
23' Kvaratskhelia curls the ball to the far corner but it goes just wide
30' Fabain Ruiz's effort from outside the box is high
39' GOAL! João Neves nets double as Fabian Ruiz assists! PSG 2-0 Inter Miami
43' Marcelo Weigandt is booked yellow as he brought down Nuno Mendes
44' Doue's cross forces Tomás Avilés to net OWN GOAL! PSG 3-0 Inter Miami CF
47' Messi links up with Suarez but the striker's effort is saved
48' GOAL! Hakimi slots after his shot bounced back from the bar! PSG 4-0 Inter Miami
53' Doue tries his luck from outside the box but the effort is saved
60' Dembele on, Joao Neves off
60' Messi dribbles into the box but his low shot is saved by Donnarumma
70' Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are replaced by Kang-in Lee and Lucas Hernandez
74' Suarez is booked yellow for complaining with the ref
79' A Kvaratskhelia pass finds Dembele who lost control of the ball after tackling
87' Highlight from PSG vs Inter Miami CF
Line-ups
PSG XI: Marquinhos, Fabian Ruiz, Donnarumma, Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Barcola, Doue, João Neves
Subs: Lucas, Dembele, Safonov, Arnau Tenas, Kang-in Lee, Gonçalo Ramos, Beraldo, Zaire-Emery, Mayulu, Mbaye, Noham Kamara
Inter Miami CF XI: Óscar Ustari, Messi, Suarez, Alba, Busquets, Maximiliano Falcón, Marcelo Weigandt, Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende, Noah Allen, Federico Redondo
Subs: William Yarbrough, Fafà Picault, David Martínez, Rocco Ríos Novo, Ryan Sailor, Baltasar Rodríguez, Allen Obando, Benja Cremaschi, Tomás Avilés, Santiago Morales, Leo Afonso