Lionel Messi’s long-awaited clash against his former club Paris Saint-Germain turned into a lopsided affair on Sunday night, as Inter Miami were thrashed 4-0 by the reigning UEFA Champions League winners in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Despite the hype surrounding Messi’s reunion with his old teammates, the match quickly highlighted the stark contrast in quality between the two sides. PSG stormed to a four-goal lead in the first half and coasted through the second, comfortably booking their spot in the quarterfinals.
A Tale of Two Teams: €66M vs. €1.06B
The financial gulf between the two clubs set the stage for an unequal battle. Inter Miami’s squad is valued at around €66.18 million, while PSG’s star-studded lineup boasts a staggering worth of over €1.06 billion. On the pitch, that gap translated into dominance.
Only six minutes into the match, PSG midfielder Neves opened the scoring. Inter Miami were forced into a defensive shell, and the game turned into a one-sided attacking drill. Neves doubled the lead in the 39th minute with a clinical strike.
From there, the floodgates opened. Just before halftime, PSG added two more goals, one a painful own goal from Avilés under pressure, and another by Achraf Hakimi, who followed up his rebound to make it 4-0 before the break.
PSG’s halftime stats told the story: 10 shots, 6 on target, and 73% possession. By contrast, Inter Miami failed to register a single shot or create any real chance in the first 45 minutes.
Sensing the game was already won, PSG coach Luis Enrique ordered his players to ease up in the second half, allowing the hosts to save face. Even substitute Ousmane Dembélé barely pushed forward, opting for a symbolic appearance rather than chasing more goals.
In the end, the scoreline remained 4-0, a kind gesture from a team that could have scored twice as many.
Messi: Isolated, Frustrated but Smiling
Messi was the lone bright spot in an otherwise outmatched Inter Miami side. The Argentine legend tried to create openings and drew occasional fouls, but his efforts were primarily in vain. Throughout the game, he could be seen shaking his head, hands on his hips, the picture of frustration.
This marked Messi’s first-ever defeat in the Club World Cup. He had previously won the tournament three times with Barcelona in 2009, 2011, and 2015.
It was also his sixth career defeat with a 4-0 scoreline, adding to painful memories like the 2-8 loss to Bayern Munich in 2020 and Argentina’s 1-6 thrashing by Bolivia in 2009.
Yet despite the result, Messi left the field with a smile. After the final whistle, he exchanged hugs and jokes with former PSG teammates, a rare sight after such a heavy loss.
“I have to say, PSG are a fantastic team,” Messi said in his post-match interview. “They’re the reigning European champions, and they showed why. We gave it our all, and I think we represented Inter Miami well on this global stage.”
A Lesson for Miami, A Statement from Paris
While Inter Miami’s journey ends here, their presence in the Club World Cup is a sign of progress for football in the United States. Playing against European giants under the global spotlight is a step forward for the MLS club, and Messi’s influence continues to raise their profile.
For PSG, this was more than a win; it was a warning to future opponents. With their eyes set on claiming their first-ever Club World Cup title, they’ve made their intent clear: they’re here to dominate.
Even in defeat, Messi’s poise and professionalism stood out. And for PSG, this was a masterclass in power, depth, and discipline, the kind of performance expected from champions.
