End of the road for Messi as PSG youth trumps Miami experience
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi in a tackle against PSG’s midfielder, Warren Zaire-Emery in the 2025 FIFA CWC round of 16 clash. Photo Credit- Sportskeeda
Paris Saint-Germain delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Inter Miami in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 29, 2025, advancing to the quarterfinals. The European champions overwhelmed the MLS side with a first-half onslaught, led by Joao Neves and Achraf Hakimi, in front of a sold-out crowd chanting for Lionel Messi, who faced his former club.
PSG struck early, with Neves heading in a Vitinha free-kick in the sixth minute. The Portuguese midfielder doubled the lead in the 39th minute, finishing a slick passing move involving Bradley Barcola and Fabian Ruiz. An own goal by Inter Miami’s Tomas Aviles in the 43rd minute made it 3-0, before Hakimi sealed the rout with a clinical strike in stoppage time, as reported by The Athletic.
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Inter Miami, the first MLS team to reach the Club World Cup knockout rounds, struggled to respond. Messi, captaining the Herons, had a shot on target saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 54th minute and hit the wall with a late free-kick, per BBC Sport. Luis Suárez, booked for dissent, and Jordi Alba couldn’t breach PSG’s defense, which held firm despite a late Miami push. PSG’s Vitinha dominated with 98% passing accuracy, while Barcola and Désiré Doué tested Miami’s goalkeeper Franco Ustari, who made key saves.
PSG, Group B winners with a 2-1-0 record, including a 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid, showcased their treble-winning form from the 2024/25 season, per MLSSoccer.com. Inter Miami, Group A runners-up with an unbeaten 1-2-0 record, earned $21.05 million for reaching the Round of 16 but fell short against PSG’s depth, missing Ian Fray and Leo Campana to injuries.
PSG advance to face Bayern Munich or Flamengo on July 5 in Atlanta.
